Hither Green rail crash
| Date | 5 November 1967 |
|---|---|
| Time | 21:16 |
| Location | Hither Green Depot |
| Country | England |
| Rail line |
South Eastern Main Line (BR Southern Region) |
| Cause | Broken rail |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Passengers | full train, some standing passengers |
| Deaths | 49 |
| Injuries | 78 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
On 5 November 1967, a busy Sunday evening train service from Hastings to London Charing Cross derailed near the Hither Green maintenance depot in London, between Hither Green and Grove Park railway stations. Of the twelve coaches, many full of standing passengers, eleven were derailed and four turned onto their sides, resulting in 49 fatalities and 78 people injured.
The derailment was found to be due to a broken rail. The Ministry of Transport report criticised the maintenance of the line, especially following a recent increase of the maximum speed of trains over the route. Following the accident the maintenance of the line was improved and plans accelerated for replacing jointed track by continuous welded rail.
On Sunday 5 November 1967 the 19:43 Hastings to Charing Cross service, consisting of twelve coaches formed by two six-car diesel-electric multiple units – 1007 (a 6S) leading 1017 (a 6L) – and travelling at approximately 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), derailed at 21:16 shortly before the St Mildred's Road railway bridge, near Hither Green maintenance depot. The leading pair wheels of the third coach were derailed by a broken rail and ran on for a 1⁄4-mile (400 m) before hitting points, causing eleven coaches to be derailed and four of those to turn onto their sides. The train came to rest in 250 yards (230 m), except for the leading coach that detached and ran on a further 220 yards (200 m).
It was a busy Sunday evening and there were passengers standing in the train. Forty-nine passengers were killed and 78 injured, 27 being detained in hospital. Most of the casualties had been travelling in the overturned coaches. The victims included James Gordon Melville Turner. Amongst the survivors were singer Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and his wife-to-be Molly.
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