DMU Accident

Pollokshields East Jct, ScR - 11/6/74

A 3-car EMU (311-108) travelling from Newton to Glasgow Central (2E20) left Pollokshields East Station on the Inner Cathcart Circle line and almost immediately collided obliquely side-on with an oncoming 3-car Class 116 Derby DMU (Sc50874, Sc59329 & Sc50821) which was travelling from Glasgow Central to East Kilbride (2K27) at 30mph from the up branch to the up main line.

Although a head-on collision was narrowly avoided, the impact demolished the right hand side of the driving cabs of both trains. Whilst the DMU become derailed, both trains remained upright. One passenger was killed and 35 were injured in the accident. Despite the blockage causing considerable disruption to services and leading to many cancellations and diversions, the line was opened for normal traffic within 12 hours!

The report concludes that the despite the AWS equipment working correctly, the EMU passed signal G607 at Danger and therefore the accident was a direct result of driver error.

DOE; b/c; 11pp; f/o location diagram, site plan, gradient diagram (C. F. Rose)