Recommendation 14: Minimum flangeway gap with wide gauge
From Formal Inquiry: Potters Bar derailment of 10 May 2002 — Final Report (RSSB FI2013/F), published 18 March 2005.
Recommendation
Taking into account the outcome of the action recommended in 13 above, consideration should be given to increasing the minimum allowable flangeway gap between open switch rails and stock rails in situations where wide gauge is found in points and cannot immediately be corrected. An explanation of the relationship between wide gauge, minimum allowable flangeway gap, and the potential for flangeback impacts should be documented and briefed to maintenance staff.
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from the addressee has been found in the sources searched (last checked 27 February 2026). This is separate from the response above.