Great Western Railway Fined £1 Million After Fatal Incident
06.10.2025
Great Western Railway was penalized £1 million after a disastrous 2018 accident at Twerton revealed serious safety failures and initiated mass reforms throughout Britain’s passenger railways.
This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
Great Western Railway Safety Failure Causes High-Density Crash
Office of Rail and Road (ORR) investigators concluded that Great Western Railway breached earlier guidelines on passenger risk. The 2018 incident resulted in the loss of 28-year-old Bethan Roper, who leaned out of a droplight window when she hit a branch from a tree.
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The ORR learned that there had been corresponding incidents already in 2016. Nevertheless, the firm didn’t act on effective safety measures yet. It did not create a risk assessment until 2017, yet the report did not recognize or implement sufficient defense strategies.
As a result of this failure, the company faced a £1 million fine, plus £78,000 legal costs at the regulator. The regulators commented that the ruling provides a reminder that safety risk failure is likely to have financial, as well as human, consequences.
Great Western Railway Adopting Reforms for Enhanced Passenger Protection
After the disaster, Great Western Railway implemented severe operating amendments. Droplight-coached trains were withdrawn or altered so that no passenger could open them en route. These improvements meet current safety specifications throughout the network.
Chief Inspector of Railways for ORR, Richard Hines, highlighted that the accident was “a preventable tragedy.” He encouraged operators to respond promptly when there are incidences of safety because proactive management helps prevent losses of life. The case also provided a precedent for the whole UK railways industry.
Specialists mention that the accident redrafted corporate accountability on British transport companies. The companies are now expected to make routine risk analyses and apply corrective measures promptly. This change is a sea shift for the UK railroad industry when it comes to putting the safety of passengers first.
Source: www.railadvent.co.uk
News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:
What caused the Great Western Railway fine?
The fine resulted from safety negligence leading to a fatal accident in 2018 when a passenger suffered a head injury after leaning from a droplight window.
How has Great Western Railway improved safety since the incident?
The company removed or restricted droplight windows, introduced stricter safety reviews, and enhanced staff training to prevent similar accidents.
What lessons did the Great Western Railway case teach the rail industry?
It reinforced the importance of immediate safety action, continuous risk assessment, and regulatory compliance to protect passengers and prevent avoidable tragedies.
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