Rail worker in near miss with train at Totnes

Investigators will publish safety recommendations

This is the terrifying moment when a railway worker had a near miss with a train on the track near Totnes.

The image has been released by the government’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) as part of its inquiry into the incident.

According to the RAIB, the incident happened at around 10:44am on 13 March this year. The Great Western Railway train travelling at around 50mph was involved in the near miss with a track worker shortly after it left Totnes station heading towards Newton Abbot.

The report goes on: “The track worker involved in the near miss was the controller of site safety for a team which was undertaking work adjacent to the line.

“At the time of the incident he was assessing if there was enough clearance on the side of the railway for the team to continue using the separated system of work which had been planned for the task.”

A separated system is when a space is provided between the site of work and the nearest open line.

The RAIB has completed its preliminary examination and has decided to publish a so-called safety digest, which will include recommendations for the improvement of railway safety.