Track workers in near miss after line blockage issued for wrong location

Track workers narrowly missed being hit by a train after a line blockage was put in place for the wrong location.

The group narrowly avoided being struck by a train travelling at around 78mph at Morton Junction, north of Alfreton station on the Erewash Valley line at around 0726 on November 27 last year.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said work was due to take place on November 27 and 28 at Morton Junction and Codnor Park Junction, however the locations were swapped due to difficulties in obtaining the Morton line blockage for the first date.

Changes to production sheers were not saved, however RAIB said the Controller of Site Safety (COSS) did not realise the safe work pack (SWP) was for Codnor Park when they returned to work on November 27 as they didn’t fully read it.

As a result, the group travelled to Morton instead, with the COSS still not realising the signal numbers he asked to have set to danger were for the other location.

The track workers cleared the line around two seconds before a train passed, before the COSS and the train’s driver instructor both reported the near miss to the signaller.

“At 0731, the signaller rang the COSS to lift the line blockage using the details that had been previously agreed. It was at this point that the COSS realised that the signal numbers used related to Codnor Park Junction, not Morton Junction,” RAIB reported.

The COSS, who was also the Person in Charge, was required to brief the group before work.

RAIB added: “Had the COSS used the SWP for this briefing, they would almost certainly have realised that the incorrect pack was being used before the group went on to the track.”

RAIB said changes to planning or scheduling tasks should be clearly communicated to the relevant PIC, who in turn should ensure they have the correct SWP and it’s used to brief colleagues, no matter how familiar they are with the location. It also said clear understanding of the location of work groups is needed when requesting line blockages.

signallers, persons in charge and controllers of site safety reaching a clear, mutual understanding of the location of work groups when requesting a line blockage.

A Network Rail spokesman told RAIL: “A safety stand-down was held, with frontline staff being involved in discussions about the lessons learned. The safety of our colleagues, passengers and train crew is our top priority.”