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The firm pleaded guilty to a safety offence following an investigation and prosecution by industry regulator the Office of Rail and Road.<\/p>\n
It is the second heavy fine in as many weeks following a \u00a33.75m penalty imposed following the death of two trackworkers at Margam, Wales.<\/p>\n
In the latest fatality, 30-year-old track worker Tyler Byrne was struck by a passenger train near to Surbiton station.<\/p>\n
Byrne was a member of a four-person group of track workers, undertaking inspections at the location while trains were running in both directions.<\/p>\n
There was no protection and an inadequate warning system in place, which exposed all members of the working party to the risk of being struck by a train in the course of their work.<\/p>\n
ORR\u2019s investigation identified failings with the planning, monitoring and supervision to ensure the workers were adequately protected while carrying out their maintenance activities on the track.<\/p>\n
The regulator had previously served Network Rail two Improvement Notices in July 2019, requiring it to implement, preventive and protective measures necessary to safeguard workers on or near the line.<\/p>\n
One of the notices concerned planning, and the other concerned the use of technology.<\/p>\n
While Network Rail had made some improvements to track worker safety arrangements at the time of Byrne\u2019s accident, its implementation across the organisation lacked urgency and pace, said the ORR.<\/p>\n
In recent years and subsequent to the incident, there has been a vast reduction in red-zone working, when lines remain live during track work, while new technologies have been introduced to reduce the risk of harm.<\/p>\n
Richard Hines, ORR\u2019s HM Chief Inspector of Railways, said:\u202f \u201cOur deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of Tyler Byrne.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt just 30 years old, Tyler had a bright future ahead of him \u2013 I am sure that he would have gone on to achieve all his hopes and dreams with those who he loved the most. He, however, was sadly denied that opportunity. I am so sorry for the loss of his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a period when we also remembered those who lost their lives at Margam in 2019, let us keep our focus on reducing the risks faced by our people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n