Rail companies sued for £5m over oil spill caused by derailment
More than 400,000 litres of fuel spilled in the area causing an "environmental disaster".
Network Rail has initiated legal action against two rail companies, DB Cargo UK and Touax Rail, seeking over £5 million in damages following a fuel spill caused by a train derailment in August 2020. The incident occurred near Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, resulting in the derailment of 10 wagons, causing 446,000 litres of fuel to spill and requiring the evacuation of approximately 300 people due to the ensuing blaze.
The derailment, according to Network Rail's legal claim, was due to the wagon not being maintained with reasonable care, for which they are suing Touax. Additionally, Network Rail is seeking damages from DB Cargo for allegedly breaching a contractual duty to ensure reasonable maintenance of the wagon. The derailment, which saw the train traveling at about 38mph, was found to have been caused by a set of wheels locking, likely due to a brake defect, as determined by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) in January 2022.
The incident prompted extensive environmental cleanup efforts, including the excavation of 30,000 tonnes of fuel-soaked soil, and led the RAIB to recommend nine measures to prevent similar accidents. Both Network Rail and DB Cargo have declined to comment on the lawsuit, while Touax has been asked for its response.
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