A near-miss incident involving an 87km/h train and a rail worker highlights critical safety oversights.
- The worker, designated as the controller of site safety, moved perilously close to an active train line.
- The incident occurred because planned work procedures did not secure adequate mid-week rail line possessions.
- The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) underscores systemic safety management failures.
- Essential safety protocols and standards were not meticulously followed, exacerbating risk.
A harrowing event unfolded in Devon when a track worker narrowly avoided being struck by a train travelling at 87km/h. The worker, responsible for site safety, strayed too near to an active line while checking for safe working conditions. The event, recorded by forward-facing CCTV, underscores the precarious nature of railway maintenance work.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report reveals that on 13 March 2024, the worker was part of a team managing minor repairs on a troughing route next to the main track at Littlehempston. Colas Rail, despite the safety needs, could not secure full mid-week possessions of the line to avert risks posed by passing trains. Instead, they planned for temporary blockages, which proved insufficient.
During the operation, the distance between troughing and running rail alarmingly decreased, prompting the worker to venture near the tracks to assess continuation feasibility. A train, en route from Totnes to Newton Abbot, emerged unexpectedly, forcing the worker into nearby vegetation to escape, mere seconds before the train’s arrival.
This incident exposed the critical error of conflating roles and responsibilities, as the worker assumed dual roles of safety controller and site warden, contrary to Network Rail standards. The misconceived reliance on infrastructure features for safety measurements further aggravated the situation.
The RAIB’s review highlighted that adhering to minimum standard distances and clear demarcation of roles are crucial to worker safety. Network Rail’s guideline of maintaining a 3m distance was compromised, and appropriate personnel roles were ignored, signifying systemic negligence.
This near-miss incident serves as a stark reminder of the indispensable nature of stringent railway safety protocols.
