Network Rail Fined £3.41M After Worker’s Death

Network Rail Faces £3.41M Fine After Fatal Train Collision. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Network Rail paid a £3.41 million fine after a train struck a worker. Tyler Byrne died inspecting tracks near Surbiton when tragedy hit unexpectedly.

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The incident shocked southwest London on February 9, 2021, claiming the 30-year-old’s life. Emergency teams arrived quickly, but they declared Byrne dead at the scene.

Authorities fined the company, which manages UK railway infrastructure, for safety violations. Network Rail pleaded guilty, and courts added £43,000 in legal costs.

The Office for Rail and Road exposed critical flaws during their detailed investigation. They found no warning systems or protection existed to save Byrne.

This oversight endangered every worker on the tracks near Surbiton, regulators noted. Thus, poor safety measures directly caused Byrne’s preventable and heartbreaking death.

Investigators blamed inadequate planning and weak supervision for the fatal crash. They criticized the company for failing to protect workers during maintenance tasks.

Richard Hines, ORR’s Chief Inspector, offered condolences to Byrne’s loved ones. He praised Tyler’s potential, lost forever at just 30 years old.

Track workers ensure railway safety for passengers, often in tough conditions, Hines said. Therefore, safeguarding them from harm ranks as an urgent industry priority.

Network Rail’s History of Safety Failures

The Surbiton crash mirrors earlier deadly incidents involving Network Rail employees. For example, two workers perished in Margam, Wales, under similar circumstances.

Michael Lewis and Gareth Delbridge died in Margam on July 3, 2019, suddenly. A train hit them, and no warnings or blocks protected their workspace.

The company faced a £3.75 million fine after the Margam incident occurred. Consequently, they mostly stopped red-zone working, keeping tracks live during repairs.

Despite this shift, another worker died near Roade on April 8, 2020, tragically. A train speeding at 90mph struck the worker on the main line.

Network Rail Urged to Act Swiftly

The ORR issued two Improvement Notices in July 2019 to the company. These demanded better safety, yet the company’s response lacked speed and effort.

Safety improved slightly by Byrne’s accident, but urgency remained noticeably absent. Thus, regulators slammed the company’s delays in addressing known dangers.

Byrne’s death highlights the persistent risks track workers face daily on duty. Families grieve losses that stronger safety steps could easily have prevented.

The company must act fast because workers need protection while maintaining railways. Fines alone cannot undo the profound pain of these repeated tragedies.

Hines called on the industry to cut risks for workers supporting rail services. He urged recalling past incidents, like Margam, to push for real change.

The £3.41 million fine holds the company accountable for its serious lapses. Yet, it also demands broader reforms to stop future worker deaths.

Protecting track workers requires strong systems, and delays cost lives every time. Loved ones mourn, so the industry must focus on safety now.

Source: metro.co.uk

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