HSE probes cliff railway death

The Health & Safety Executive has launched an investigation into how a 79-year-old engineer was killed while carrying out maintenance work on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway in Devon on September 4. Devon & Cornwall Police are also involved.

The man, who had not yet been named as this issue of RAIL went to press, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A statement from the company indicated that the accident was not related to its operational activities and that it would fully co-operate with the investigation.

It added: “All of us at the railway are devastated by the death of a dearly loved engineer in a tragic accident, which was unrelated to the operation of the railway.”

The Babbacombe funicular, opened in 1926, is popular with tourists wanting easy access to Oddicombe beach. It has been closed since the accident, and the access road was also briefly cordoned off.