Importance of Rule Book stressed

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch says a near miss between a train and a track worker at Leighton Buzzard on June 16 demonstrates the importance of staff following the Rule Book related to personal track safety.

It also says the near miss emphasises the need for staff to not become distracted by electronic devices while on or near the line, and for Network Rail contractors to properly operate the industry’s planning and delivery processes to ensure work has been risk assessed and the system of work is safe and appropriate for the task.

RAIB further highlights that contractors wishing to access NR infrastructure must ensure their staff do not go onto the railway without prior agreement.

During the incident, two track workers were conducting a survey of trackside vegetation between Cheddington and Bletchley.

At 1628, the driver of a northbound train passing Leighton Buzzard station at 125mph saw a person standing next to the line where the clearance was limited by the structure of an overbridge.

The driver sounded the train’s horn and observed the person move out of the way (but not to a defined position of safety) around a second before the train reached him.

The workers were employed by two separate labour supply companies and the investigation showed that both had little or no local knowledge or previous experience of working in the area.

One worker became distracted by his video equipment or mobile phone and stopped in an area where there was no position of safety.