Draft:Heathrow Express tunnel collapse
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Last edited by The Navigators (talk | contribs) 0 seconds ago. (Update) |
 Photograph of the ground above following the collapse | |
| Date | October 20–21, 1994 |
|---|---|
| Type | Tunnel collapse |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Inquest | Heathrow Report |
Background
[edit]Project
[edit]== ==
Collapse
[edit]A catastrophic collapse occurred at approximately 01:15 on 21 October 1994, in the area of the down-line platform tunnel, southeast of the Fuel Depot Shaft[1]
Response
[edit]In the aftermath of the collapse, Balfour Beatty staff contacted 999 to summon London Fire Brigade to the scene. London Fire Brigade contacted Heathrow Airport Fire & Rescue Service, who would notify Heathrow Operations Center at 01:21. The initial reports however did not accurately explain what occurred, and only when the BAA duty manager would arrive at the scene a couple of minutes did the scope of the disaster become known to Heathrow Airport staff.[2] It was only at this point that London Underground was informed of the situation.[2]
The area around the scene, outside the Fuel Depot Site was not closed and evacuated, such as car parks 1A and 3, pedestrian subways and roads around the site.[2]
London Underground decided to keep Piccadilly Line closed around 03:56.[2]
Airport operations suffered significant disruptions due to road closures, and the closure of subway links to Terminal 3.[3]
Subsquient Collapses
[edit]On Saturday, 22 October, the up-line platform tunnel suffered a collapse, northeast of the Fuel Depot Shaft.[1][3] The following day, 23 October, a third collapse occurred, this one directly under the northern end of Camborne House, inflicting significant damage on both Camborne House and Camborne House Extension. Both buildings would be deemed total losses and later demolished.[1][3]
Aftermath
[edit]At the time of the collapse, other tunnel projects across London were using the NATM process, which all suspended work as a precaution. The Health and Safety Executive requested the suspensions remain in place until projects could prove they could continue safely.[4] The Health and Safety Commission requested the Health and Safety Executive conduct a two-part investigation, with the first considering if NATM tunnel process was safe in the United Kingdom, and second the specific causes of the Heathrow tunnel collapse.[4]
On 9 May 1996, HSE published Safety of New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) Tunnels. This report considered the history of the NATM process and specific issues raised by geology specific to the United Kingdom, such as London clay.
The additional work caused by the collapse and the Heathrow Express Rail Link opening was delayed until June 1998.[5]
In August 1997 the Health and Safety Executive decided to initiate legal proceedings and informed Balfour Beatty and Geoconsult. Balfour Beatty would plead guilty to violations of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The Crown Prosecution Service declined to prosecute for similar issues in Terminal 4.
On 15 February 1999, Balfour Beatty and Geoconsult were found guilty of violating the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Balfour Beatty was fined £1.21 million (equivalent to £2.63 million in 2023), Geoconsult was fined £500,000 (equivalent to £1,094,434 in 2023). Both were also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £100,000 (equivalent to £218,887 in 2023).[6][7] Balfour Beatty's 1.2 million fine was the largest single fine for a Health and Safety Act violation at the time.[7]
In 30 July 1999, Geoconsult's application for leave to appeal against their earlier conviction was rejected, as was change in the financial penalties.[7]
Bibliography
[edit]- Health & Safety Executive (July 2000). The collapse of NATM tunnels at Heathrow Airport. Health & Safety Executive. ISBN 0-7176-1792-0.
- Vaughan, Adrian (2004). Railway Blunders. Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0 7110 2836 2.
- Health & Safety Executive (2014). Safety of New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) Tunnels (PDF) (2nd ed.). Health & Safety Executive. ISBN 978 0 7176 1068 6. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Health and Safety Executive 2000, pp. 48.
- ^ a b c d Health and Safety Executive 2000, pp. 49.
- ^ a b c Health and Safety Executive 2000, pp. 51.
- ^ a b Health and Safety Executive 2000, pp. 54.
- ^ Health and Safety Executive 2000, pp. xx.
- ^ Vaughan 2004, pp. 142.
- ^ a b c Health and Safety Executive 2000, pp. 56.
External links
[edit]
Works related to The collapse of NATM tunnels at Heathrow Airport at Wikisource
Media related to Category:The collapse of NATM tunnels at Heathrow Airport at Wikimedia Commons
