Gipsy Lane safety incident - Atkins safety film

Following a 'Close Call' incident at the Gipsy Lane work site near Nuneaton, Atkins' Rail QSE and Marketing teams produced a safety video which recreates the incident.
The DVD has been circulated throughout the industry, including our key Suppliers, to raise awareness of the dangers of complacency and reassert the necessity for all industry staff to rigorously follow safety protocols.
The film as part of a safety campaign received the UK rail Business Award for safety in 2008.

[@chrismillyard8304]

If you have not already, then this would be a good training vid for drivers and track operatives for all TOC's. When I did my training for driving we were only shown 'horror movies' of reconstructed events from the past, we never saw near miss constructive vids like this one, for it prepares the mind adequately for all whom work on the network. One particular day when driving a train at 100mph, I saw a number of track workers from a mile away, gave a long blast on the horn, then another....

[@Richardsrailway]

as an ex railwayman of twenty years, if you haven't got the sighting required as a lookout and as a COSS , STOP THE JOB. GET A LINE BLOCKAGE. OR A SAFER GREEN ZONE IE POSSESSION .CAT1A line like that should of been done under a possession , not in a red zone.

[@chrismillyard8304]

Contd... at 600 yards when only a few seconds later one of the group was still in the 4'. When he was out of sight I heard a noise of ballast hitting the underframe I slammed the brakes on. I ran back about a mile shouting to the signalman on my mobile convinced that I had hit someone. Fortunately he just got out in time, but by then we had all shit our pants. I've had 1 under's before but that still scared me more than anything I have experienced before. Thanks for the vid, not the memory.

[@robthemod58]

REMEMBER - Avanti West Coast are running InterCity services now. You have all the time in the world….

[@79Lamplighter]

You are spot on mate I am also ex BR having to retire due to ill health and in my time have seen a few one unders not a nice thing to see

[@sdvplatt]

A safety system can't work all day if it fails once. Has to be 100%!

[@hihosilver33063]

would point out that this method of placing the lookout to give the best sighting is used also by Networkrail staff some of who are ex BR staff its not just a workers under private ownership that operate in this manner, an S&T team working in north London on points had a similar set up but this time it wasn't such a happy ending.

[@EM-yk1dw]

Surprised there isnt any buddleia to be seen in the film, the railway infrastructure is a mess/jungle now. Buddleia should be Network Rail's emblem.

[@JimTLonW6]

The Kiwis do this rather well, if there are people working on the track then trains may only pass when they have had authorisation from the track gang. Of course, most lines have very little traffic...

[@strains3551]

why didnt the train approaching sound its horn? thought it was a requirement if you see people on or about the line, especially your own line

[@tylisirn]

The crew was working in a curve and couldn't see the train. It's likely that the train couldn't see the crew either, until it was much too late.

[@ssisingh]

Ur right

[@traceylamplugh7727]

Trains usually honk the horn around blind bends so anyone on or near the line, know!

[@lifeisgood3386]

Watching this vid made me shiver so my only hope is people and school children will take warning of this video rail tracks are not play grounds stay OFF !!!

[@andyb3666]

This was about working safely on the railway they weren’t trespassing

[@stephenrozario5742]

THE LOOKOUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO THE WORKERS A TOUCHING DISTANCE

[@brucewilliams2267]

Look out man should never get separated from his men, were this one was positioned he could not adequately protect his men, he was not in a position to protect his men he should have been within touching distance of them not the other side of a four road section, and if he could not get his sighting distance then an intermediate man should have been positioned as to then give to appropriate warning time , in my day under BR it was the lookouts job to set the men back to work and one else, and then only when the line's being worked on where clear of traffic, not a COSS as he cant see any other traffic approaching, I was a track charge man for the best part of 14 years on BR in the 70's and 80's and this situation would never have been aloud to arise in my time on the P/Way, the golden rule of track safety is never put your men or yourself in a position of danger unless you have very reliably lookout protection, and if your lookout man deems he cant protect you then block the road i:e initiate a T2 block, track safety its not rocket science its common scene having a good working relationship with your men and knowing your rule book.

[@boogieboy1974]

If they’d have been br, they would’ve been dead

[@brucewilliams1413]

@@boogieboy1974 well that’s just typical of just how bloody ignorant you are pal, you evidently have no concept of the rule book you probably haven’t even read it that is if you can read at all.

[@traceylamplugh7727]

Could using a whistle help?

[@stephenrozario5742]

EAST COAST MAIN LINE OR WEST COAST MAINLINE

[@boogieboy1974]

Coss shouldn’t have let them back on, simple, Anders elshite says it all

[@joenichols725]

Bit of advice look and listen

[@stephenrozario5742]

WARNING HORN OR WHISTLE SHOULD HAVE HELPED THOSE 3 RAILWAY 🛤 WORKERS ARE VERY LUCKŸ TO BE ALIVE