At about 09:53 hrs on 23 April 2024, an East Midlands Railway train travelling at 104 mph (167 km/h) was involved in a near miss with a track worker on the Down Fast line about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) north of Harpenden station, in Hertfordshire.
The track worker was crossing an underbridge when the train approached. This bridge did not have the required clearance between the bridge parapet and the nearest running rail for the track worker to be far enough away from the train, so that they were in a position of safety.
Upon seeing the track worker on the bridge, the driver sounded the train’s horn and then made an emergency brake application. The track worker reached the far side of the bridge just before the train passed them. Once the train stopped, the driver reported the incident to the signaller as they were unsure if their train had struck the track worker.
The track worker was a member of a group that was working to the north of the bridge. They had earlier left the group and walked alone back to their van at the track access point, which was just to the south of the bridge. At the time of the near miss, they were walking alone back towards the group.
Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events which led to the incident. It will also consider:
- the actions of those involved and the factors that may have influenced them
- what rules and processes applied to the track workers, both as a group and as individuals, when crossing a structure with limited clearance
- the way in which the work was planned and how the risks associated with being on or near a railway line were being managed
- any underlying management factors.
Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.
We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.
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