{"id":515524,"date":"2025-02-28T10:09:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T10:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=515524"},"modified":"2025-02-28T10:09:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T10:09:59","slug":"network-rail-fined-3-4m-after-worker-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/civils\/network-rail-fined-3-4m-after-worker-death-28-02-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Network Rail fined \u00a33.4m after worker death"},"content":{"rendered":"

Network Rail has been fined \u00a33.41m following the death of a track worker in Surbiton.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tyler Byrne died after being struck by a passenger train on 9 February 2021. He had been working as part of a four-man team undertaking track inspections while trains were running in both directions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Office for Rail and Road (ORR) said there was \u201cno 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\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An investigation by the rail regulator found failings with planning, monitoring and supervision \u2013 and that Network Rail \u201clacked urgency and pace\u201d with safety improvements after being served two improvement notices by the ORR in July 2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The notices required Network Rail to implement preventive and protective measures to safeguard workers on or near a line, with one of them concerning planning, the ORR said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ORR led the prosecution against Network Rail, which on Thursday (27 February) was fined \u00a33.41m and ordered to pay costs of \u00a343,096.39 at Kingston Crown Court after pleading guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the ORR acknowledged there had been a \u201cvast reduction\u201d in red-zone working, where lines remain live during track work, in \u201crecent years\u201d. It added that new technology had also helped reduce risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Hines, HM chief inspector of railways at ORR, said: \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

\u201cOur industry\u2019s track workers play a crucial role in delivering a safe railway for passengers and users of the system, often working in challenging and difficult conditions. It\u2019s essential that they are also protected from harm.<\/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

Ellie Burrows, managing director for southern region for Network Rail, said: \u201cThe tragic death of our colleague, Tyler Byrne, should never have happened on our railway. Our thoughts continue to be with Tyler’s loved ones, family, friends and colleagues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe accept today\u2019s judgement and are deeply sorry for what happened. Any life lost on the railway is one too many and since this tragic event we\u2019ve continued to take significant steps to improve safety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur track worker safety programme has almost entirely eliminated the need for colleagues working on the railway when trains are running. We have done this by carrying out maintenance work at different times, using alternative technology and we continue to examine our planned work to keep our colleagues safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s judgement is a sobering reminder of why safety must remain at the very forefront of our minds. Tyler\u2019s death will never be forgotten, and we will continue to strive to ensure something like this never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Network Rail has been fined \u00a33.41m following the death of a track worker in Surbiton.\u00a0 Tyler Byrne died after being struck by a passenger train on 9 February 2021. He had been working as part of a four-man team undertaking track inspections while trains were running in both directions.\u00a0 The Office for Rail and Road …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90383,"featured_media":371985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[549,581,578],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n