The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is investigating an incident last month when a train travelling at around fifty miles per hour nearly struck a track worker.

The incident took place at around 10:44 on Wednesday 13 March 2024, when a Great Western Railway train was involved in a ‘near miss’ with a track worker on the Up Main line after leaving Totnes station heading towards Newton Abbot.

The track worker was acting as the controller of site safety (COSS) for a group working next to the Up Main line.

The group was using a separated system of work, and at the time that the incident took place, the COSS was assessing whether there was enough clearance on the side of the railway to continue using this method.

Near misses in the last year

The incident came a year after a near miss in the same county, at Teignmouth boat yard.

Over the last year, the RAIB has also reported on near misses at a Hampshire level crossing, near Nottingham station, and between Letterston and Fishguard in South Wales.

Safety digest

The RAIB has carried out a preliminary examination, which involves collating basic information about the incident.

Based on the evidence it has gathered, it has decided that, in this instance, it is appropriate to issue a safety digest.