Research from Lancaster University suggests that solar storms could be a hidden cause behind train accidents, manipulating signalling systems and potentially putting safety at risk. 

Solar storms are capable of inducing geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) on Earth, and have been known to disrupt electrical grids. According to Ph.D. researcher Cameron Patterson and professor Jim Wild, some currents could flow through the track circuits of AC electrified lines.

To prove this, the team looked at both the Glasgow to Edinburgh line and the Preston to Lancaster section of the West Coast Main Line

“Our research suggests that space weather is able to flip a signal in either direction, turning a red signal green or a green signal red. This is obviously very significant from a safety perspective,” said Patterson. 

While previous research, detailed in the journal Space Weather, explored “right side” failures (switching signals from green to red), the recent study emphasises the more hazardous “wrong side” failures, where signals could turn from red to green.

The study indicated that “wrong side” failures could happen at a lower geoelectric field strength than “right side” failures, making them more susceptible to weaker geomagnetic storms.

“Our research shows that space weather poses a serious, if relatively rare, risk to the rail signalling system, which could cause delays or even have more critical, safety implications,” said Cameron. 

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“This natural hazard needs to be taken seriously. By their nature, high-impact, low-frequency events are hard to plan for, but ignoring them is rarely the best way forward.”

According to Prof Jim Wild, working in Space Physics at Lancaster University, in the future we could see space weather forecasting being used to make decisions about limiting railway operations if an extreme event is expected, just as meteorological forecasts are used currently. (where does this quote start?)

“Other industries such as aviation, electricity generation and transmission, and the space sector are considering the risks to their operations, and exploring how these might be mitigated. It’s important that the rail sector is included in this planning,” he said.