Keywords: railway accidents, investigation, railway technology, derailments.

This paper discusses how accident investigation can contribute positively to the development of safety related railway technology. It explains what guides the accident investigator's decisions when formulating investigation recommendations. The paper then considers how existing and potential routes from investigation to research and technological development can be improved in order to maximise the safety benefit from investigations. This will require wider and better communication between accident investigation bodies and the railway industry than purely formal, legal routes. The paper includes four case studies based on the RAIB's experiences which demonstrate how accident investigation can positively influence railway technology to bring about safety improvements. The case studies cover improving the integrity of critical final drive gearbox bearings, reducing freight train derailments, controlling post-derailment vehicle behaviour, and improving the survivability of passengers in high speed derailments.

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