One Second From Death: Rail Workers Narrowly Avoid 125mph Train

One Second From Death: Rail Workers Narrowly Avoid 125mph Train Railway workers were forced to scramble to safety as a train sped towards them at 125 miles-per-hour. The near-miss happened near Egmanton level crossing on the East Coast Main Line on 5th October last year. The three workers, part of a group supplied to Network Rail by Vital Human Resources, only became aware of the train just three seconds before it reached them. One worker spotted the danger and shouted to the others to get out of the way just just a second to spare. A report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch talked of shocking safety practices. They said the leader of the group, employed by Network Rail, had skimped on safety to get the job done more quickly.Simon French, Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents, said: "When the person in charge of a team is both a strong personality and an employee of the client, it can be particularly hard for contract workers to challenge unsafe behaviour. "In this investigation, RAIB found that the person in charge had adopted an unsafe method of working in an attempt to undertake additional unplanned work. "Both the person in charge and team members became distracted, and the result was that three of them found themselves jumping clear of a train travelling at 125 miles per hour with just one second to spare. "This came so close to being a major tragedy." A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Safety is our top priority and we take incidents such as the one at Egmanton extremely seriously and we have worked closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on this report. "We work hard to prevent incidents like this happening and we have already begun to implement the recommendations made.” Uk Politics World News GE2018 Brexit G20 OJW Donations Welcome. www.paypal.com...

[@laurencetayloruk]

On our track safety course the instuctor took us out on York station platform, pointed at a train coming in, and said "tell me when you hear it". We heard it about 2 seconds before it was on us. Electric trains are amazingly quiet especially if the engine is on the back end. And in this video it probably was.

[@grahamjordan1040]

There is no engine on an electric train 🙄

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Theres a reason you didnt hear the engine on that electric train..

[@MervynPartin]

@@grahamjordan1040The new(ish) Hitachi Azuma multiple units do not have separate locomotives but do have diesel engines within the sets to enable running beyond the overhead wires. The diesels would not normally be running whilst on the electrified lines. At the time of this video, there would still be many trains of Mk4 coaching stock with a class 91 electric loco at one end and a driving van trailer at the other. The cooling fans on the locomotives are fairly loud, but would not be heard if the driving van trailer was leading.

[@Xx_D3str0y3rCrypt0B0t_xX]

@@grahamjordan1040 There are electric engines

[@The_Untitled]

@MervynPartin They still do run alot, Last time I went to London I rode in a Mk4 coach

[@kingjames8283]

Here in the U.S., this is a very serious matter. I'm in construction both road and bridge building and when our jobsite intersects a rail line, a foreman from the railroad must be onsite as the point-man with direct radio communications from rail dispatchers. That person knows where the trains are and when it'll cross our work zones. He is the only person who can authorize our crossing of the rails. Same for oversize permit loads on regular roads at main line rail grade crossings. We cannot cross over rail tracks unless he is on location and gives authority to cross otherwise we sit and wait until he arrives. There were two incidents recently where transport companies didn't notify the railroad of pending crossings, one involving a wind generator blade, and the second involving a massive concrete bridge beam, and both crossings lead to massive destruction and train derailments. The fines and cost to the transport companies will be in the multi-millions of dollars which one phone call would've prevented.

[@sparkyUK]

It's a very serious matter in the UK, too.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

In the US, Class 7 track (which allows passenger trains to run up to 125mph) require full grade separation, and absolutely no road crossings.

[@melvideo63]

I believe it's called "track and time," to get authority to occupy a given area of track (in CTC territory, between control points). The Dispatcher gives detailed authority, and the trackside workers must repeat the authority verbatim for confirmation.

[@sandynathan]

There is absolutely no chance of this being the drivers fault. Where were the lookouts? Where was the limited speed markers? Was this work carried out authorised or even organised. You cannot even blame the driver for sounding the horn as there is no audio available. I'd say he did sound it because the way they moved when he rounded the corner says to me the driver saw them, blasted the horn and they got the fuck out of there. I'd put 100% of the blame on them not the driver.

[@tgm9991]

Yes and the rail accident investigation branch put the blame on the way the track workers were working, the driver did everything by the book including proper horn usage, emergency stop and reported the incident and thought he killed one of them so the incident was initially treated as a fatality and the ones in charge of the track workers never even reported the incident and say that they where involved in a near miss and everyone was fine nor did they admit it after they were contacted about the incident IIRC.

[@sandynathan]

@@tgm9991 just amazes me that people commenting on here seem to think it's the drivers fault. There are literally no indicators whatsoever that there are workers. As far as the driver is aware its a clear track

[@sandynathan]

@@barryallison7051 I'd check the report. Trains have black boxes and it showed clearly the horn was used extensively.

[@barryallison7051]

@@sandynathan then why oh why did they continue onto the line .That would have went down as a near miss also that COSS should have been sacked or demoted back to track rat.

[@sandynathan]

@@barryallison7051 that is a bloody good question, why venture onto the track with no lookouts posted, according to the report(wish I could find the link-its in the comments somewhere) there was no lookouts, not even a work order planned. The train ended up stopping about a mile further down the track as the driver was convinced he'd hit someone.

[@arburo1]

The person in charge of works must be sacked. He disobeyed the safety rules. You should have a lookout both sides of the work, spaced at a distance of ( can't remember the time as the distance is based on the running speed but it may be 25 secs ). On a curve you need additional lookouts so the full distance is covered. I know this as in my younger days I was a certified lookout.

[@modelsteamers671]

You can't tell from the video who's fault it was.

[@ekspatriat]

You know 'must be sacked' is a silly thing to write as this was 6 years ago!

[@daskritterhaus5491]

absolutely a string of lookouts within eyesight so the moment the train lite shows up on the horizon seconds later the crew know. instead of with seconds to spare. idiocy 7th degree

[@gwrdriver1660]

I know this video is old now, but lookouts aren't used anymore, got ditched a few years ago, haven't seen a lookout for a gang in ages. Not sure what they use now, might be some sort of train detection. I'm a train driver by the way.

[@jamielee9350]

@@gwrdriver1660 Network Rail had committed to moving away from using human operated lookout warning systems by 31st July 2021.

[@johnhealy8513]

There seems to be no lookout and also no sounding of the horn. These guys were very lucky.

[@droge192]

How do you know there was no sounding of the horn - there's no audio feed from the train!

[@nkt1]

According to the RAIB report, the driver sounded the horn several times, got no response, applied the emergency brakes and continued sounding the horn: www.gov.uk/raib-reports/report-11-2018-near-miss-with-a-group-of-track-workers-at-egmanton-level-crossing

[@doohickey-enjoyer]

No audio in the video. The driver *_Did_* Honk the horn. There is evidence in other comments

[@Stig1244]

They didn’t have a COSS either so shouldn’t have been anywhere near the line

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

no sound, drunkard. the horn wouldve been sounded

[@hugopaul8797]

For English viewiers, this kind of situation has become usual in France since privatisation of the railways works. Those workers often do not receive every security lessons and have to work in a very short period of time.

[@sg.-_]

Qu'est-ce que tu racontes. Parfois il y a des manquements, mais de là à dire que c'est courant...

[@killakanzgaming]

It's happening more often over here in the UK too. The government's company that owns the UK's rail infrastructure (network rail) outsources almost everything these days. The companies that do the work on the tracks usually get workers from agencies, temporary staff with little or no training.

[@CRICFOOTY18]

In india situation is worse than expected

[@RichardASK]

To be fair, from the videos I have seen of Indian Railways, where people and animals are roaming all over the tracks, why is it worse than expected? Surely isn't it exactly what one would expect?@@CRICFOOTY18

[@k4productions]

Do your train not have horns or are there horns laws?

[@jankrusat2150]

Where was the safety guard? In Germany such a guard has to be posted 100 metres or so away from the construction site, with a loud air horn, to warn his colleagues about approaching trains.

[@Haz0052-tu7rr]

That's the protocol here as well, but it was neglected (I believe)

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

At 125 MPH, a 100-meter warning seems way too little.

[@zonzeven]

@@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm The safety guard has eyes, he can spot a train before the train passes him .....

[@trevormillar1576]

In Britain the train companies were allowed to abolish safety guards as "an intolerable burden on business".

[@Wasper216]

Still, not too long ago (summer 2023), 5 rail workers have been killed by an accident with a train in Germany.

[@gm9162]

Absolutely no excuse for this situation even happening. Those workmen should have known about the train approaching well in advance. Poor communication with the dispatcher.

[@thebluedaypodcast7020]

They are not in constant contact with the dispatcher, this seemed to be a case of the lookout failing at his job.

[@brianmcintyre8563]

When I worked on the railroad, you were supposed to be clear of the tracks 5 min before the train arrived. I would blame the forman. He has radio contact with the train.

[@thebluedaypodcast7020]

We very rarely use radios anymore, and on a line with a max speed of 100mph it's 10 seconds before train passes, literally just done my pts renewal last week.

[@jonathanbaird8109]

​@@thebluedaypodcast7020 How are things like this supposed to work in the UK? I see the description says they were taking unplanned work which seems baffling. In the US and as I understand it, this work would've been submitted to the relevant people at least the day before the work was to be done. Crews going through the area would receive a track bulletin when they entered service notifying them of the work limits with signs posted at the limits in each direction. Crews would either have to stop or be talked through the form B limits by the gang foreman. This would also apply if the gang had track and time and the Form B was protecting movements on adjacent tracks, I believe. I don't understand how people could be on the rails without all crews and dispatchers knowing about it.ng these signs is almost equivalent to a SPAD).

[@thebluedaypodcast7020]

@jonathanbaird8109 description is wrong, all work is planned, if something was noticed to be "wrong" with track the line would be closed immediate before any work was carried out

[@starpawsy]

Here in Australia, they put at least 2 and usually 3 tiny explosive devices on the track a couple of hundred metres "up". That way you here the "bang" in plenty of time to get off the track.

[@MisterMoot]

Can confirm. Living close to the train line, those things frequently scare the crap out of me :)

[@dennisyoung4631]

Railway “torpedoes”..??

[@jasonh.8754]

Yep, I thought so. Can't believe other places don't seem to use them. I think they're called 'percussion caps'?

[@Khox19]

When I worked on the railway, if a train ran over 3 detonators the driver should apply the emergency braking and stop

[@chairman823]

I remember those percussion caps from when I was a kid. They were used in the fog mainly. Maybe to let the driver know there was a signal coming up and to look out for it. In London in the late 1950's fog was SO thick you really stuggled to see more then a handful of yards.

[@haroldhorseposture9435]

Unfortunately, it happens. In the early privatisation days, there was an influx of p-way staff from construction companies . Bricklaying to ballasting. Not seasoned railwaymen. And I seem to recall there were quite a few incidents of lookouts being with the gang instead of where they shoulda been . At this time , an issue I had , that illustrated how bad things were , is that I ran thru a T2 possession. The building site refugees had arranged with the signalman to have possession of the up road , but took the down road as they had no clue. An emergency braking train with horn a-blaring ought to get your attention you'd have thought? Not a bit of it , as they'd finished the job and were going back to their van ,and seeing me smash thru' the red banner and blast the fogs , just waved at me as if nowt unusual had happened. Frightening. It was reported to signalman , control, both company and Network Rail , who got some choice words from me , and bugger all ever happened over it.

[@SuperMickyChow]

I used to drink in the same pub as a gang of lads who did rail work back in the early-mid 90s. Some of the stories they used to tell about near misses, accidents and fatalities caused by inexperienced people like those you've described were real eye openers

[@cedarcam]

Privatisation was a nightmare Contractors/ agency staff who had worked on motorways thought the railway was the same kind of setup. We had a COSS sent to P.way who came into our department depot to ask which line was which because he could not work it out from the sectional appendix. Not long after that the Son in the P.way of our departments Father was killed by a train. His Father and myself were devastated by that accident, that he always blamed on the incompetence of someone from a none railway background who was the COSS on that fatal day. The Son had been appointed lookout that day but the reason he had been on the track was never established.

[@jbjacobs9514]

Parts of their jumpsuits are a different color now.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

😂😂😂

[@g4joe]

A women wrote to The Daily Mirror. "The railworkers are the laziest workers in Britain, they lean on their shovels as the trains go by". What the F*!# did she expect them to do??? Die under the train.

[@user-hj6uf6nr9b]

Wow. Where's the lookout. Where's the emergency speed restriction. Where's the PICOP/PIC. Utter disgrace. I can tell you now, this is the direct result of privatisation of the UK rail network.

[@caseychaos5216]

No look out on the far Right could have seen the train at least 300 meters away

[@simonbone]

At 200 km/h, that would give you about 5 seconds warning.

[@thedave7760]

They were 10 meters away from the road crossing gates and the gates were down they didn't need a look out the gates being down should tell them that there is a train approaching. Totally the workers fault.

[@modelsteamers671]

You can't tell from the video who's fault it was.

[@tredworthngaugemodel2753]

If there's a problem with gates or barriers they stay down to road traffic sometimes with police attendance if possible

[@modelsteamers671]

@@tredworthngaugemodel2753 it depends on the nature of the fault

[@kristinajendesen7111]

We were shown this on a driver's safety day briefing several years ago, shocking. I had a few close ones with track workers, the highest speed one 90mph approaching Andover.

[@Demun1649]

HSE regulations demand that any PW crew have lookouts, both directions, with bullhorn alarms, to protect the workers. Probably, the lack of lookouts is down to the TOCs greed removing a worker who is doing nothing, in their terms, as desk pushers, and the accountants will cheer the savings.

[@Bungle2010]

WTF does it have to do with TOCs?

[@AndreiTupolev]

How the hell can the TOC possibly have any responsibility? That's all down to Network Rail

[@Demun1649]

@@Bungle2010 Because they decide how much money is spent on PW crews. "You know nothing, Jon Snow."

[@Bungle2010]

@@Demun1649 Er no they don't. It's got NOTHING to do with them..........

[@Demun1649]

@@Bungle2010 Which TOC are you the PR person for. Budgets are required for every aspect of ensuring trains run. Budgets have been reduced throughout the entire existence of the TOCs, year-on-year less spend. Staff, and ancillary services, are included in those budgets. You, clearly, are not trained as an auditor.

[@nightw4tchman]

What the hell!? Even if the barriers were down for a train coming the other way you'd move your men out of the 4 foot in case another train was approaching whilst the barriers were down! No excuse for this, the COS should be in trouble!

[@modelsteamers671]

It might not have been the Coss at fault.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

What is a COS? Acronyms some are familiar with are total confusion for others. I was alway taught to explain ALL acronyms the very first time they are used and then use just the acronym thereafter to save time and ink. Silly concept but it really helps others. Thanks.

[@modelsteamers671]

@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm in the UK a COSS is the Controller of site safety. Basically that means he is the person who sets up the safe method of working.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

@@modelsteamers671 Thanks. Overall in charge is some foreman or site supervisor who makes ALL final decisions I'd guess. Total responsibility of all workers on site. Is the COSS liable if safety turns out to be deficient? Or is that person just a staff member of the overall site boss having specialized knowledge of safety issues and laws? Sorry to keep you hopping but you are so well informed. Thanks. Happy Holidays to you and any family.

[@modelsteamers671]

@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm The Coss is the person who decides on the method of work with regard to safety, he often is also the person in charge of the technical/engineering aspect of the work but that isn't always the case. The Coss does take overall responsibility for the safety of all staff under his control and can be liable if things go wrong. In larger engineering operations its usual for a Coss to be appointed to each smaller work group and they can all be subject to different working arrangements

[@glpilpi6209]

This was a shambles . Luckily no one was killed and the driver didn't have the nightmare of what easily could have happened.

[@uhlijohn]

In the US MOW/Engineering forces MUST get protection ahead of time before undertaking any work that fouls mainline tracks. On the UPRR it is called a Form B. The Form B is a train order that advises all trains running on sections of mainline that are undergoing maintenance by workmen at specific locations. Even outside contractors near but not on the mainline. In the case of contractors a flagman is provided to communicate with trains running on the mainline. Those sections being worked on by engineering forces are also protected by yellow/red and red boards that prohibit a train from passing the red board until communicating with the foreman in charge of the work.

[@MN-Hillbilly]

I was thinking the same. Reading the comments it sounds like in Europe the MOW crew is on their own. I would think the train driver (to use the European term) would want to know when to expect a working crew.

[@johncamp2567]

At 125mph, the train is moving just under one-sixth of the speed of sound (770mph/1239kmh), further reducing reaction time before you hear its approaching.

[@bennoakes2477]

not related

[@incandescentwithrage]

And that train was definitely not going 125mph

[@m140i_james]

@@incandescentwithrage Why wasn't it?

[@Veeter99]

@@m140i_james It's observable. If you've ever driven 80-100 MPH in a car, you know that train is not going faster.

[@v12tommy]

The speed of sound is much higher through steel. You can hear supersonic rocket sleds before they approach, as the sound travels through the rails faster than the vehicle, even though the vehicle itself is supersonic.

[@oliverjumelle]

Would they not have heard the alarms from the level crossing?

[@Coywoof]

This is why the lookout is only allowed to be performing the duties of the lookout. Not supposed to be working with the rest of the group. Assuming they even had a lookout? Very scary 😢

[@DouglasCarnall]

Introduced on East Coast mainline connecting London and Edinburgh in 1975. Looks slow today compared with French TGV, Japanese Shinkazen and Chinese wonders, but back in the day was a world-beater.

[@Maverick_31]

Something tells these guys didn’t have a permit from the dispatcher to foul the track. The railroad I work for in Canada, train crews have what we call a TGBO that lists all of our restrictions that we’ll encounter on our trip including Rule 42s which are foremen occupying the tracks and they’ll place a yellow and red flag two miles (if possible) before a red flag which marks their working limits. Crews must be given permission from the foreman to proceed through his or her limits. The thing is the rail traffic controller (RTC) must give the foreman permission to occupy the track in the first place. I’m assuming that the UK railways have something similar. That leads me to believe the crew here had no idea workers were fouling the track.

[@Sgt_Bill_T_Co]

My brother was hit by a train because the lookout 'went to relieve himself' - my bro was struck by the running board, he survived but......

[@srvntlilly]

That's terrifying. So glad he's ok. 😮

[@tomm856]

I'm a retired rail worker and where the hell is the advanced lookout and the site lookout? Hope who was responsible for this near miss got sacked. When I worked on the main line there was TOW’s that which gave a steady beep when safe but turned to a rapid beat when a train was some distance away, but heading for you, giving you plenty of time to get to a place of safety.

[@Icehso140]

Having driven electric trains, I know there are systems in place where transponders can be placed at sections of the track where speed needs to be reduced or trains need to be alerted to situations ahead. The onboard computer can pick up these transponder signals and alert the driver/engineer giving him a limited time to respond until the onboard system takes over and slows the train to a safer speed or shuts the train down completely as if a deadman had been tripped. On a slower passenger train I get 3 seconds to respond when the speed limit is exceeded for a section of track. Why these systems are not installed throughout, especially when entering a curve in the inner-city, is anybody's guess. Just for the record, I'm guessing money and possible vandalism to the transponders.

[@daveb0789]

That has got nothing to do with what happened here.

[@Icehso140]

No kidding Sherlock? My comment was about railway safety in general. @@daveb0789

[@phillipg1588]

Here in Australia every NEAR track maintenance site has what's known as a "Lookout". His job (and only job), is to be in a position where he can see approaching trains and full view of the work gang. He will sound an air horn to warn workers of an approaching train. Now if the sighting of approaching trains is too restrictive then there will be an Outer Lookout with two-way communication with the Inner Lookout. Now if the work requires actual work ON track then there will be inner and outer flagmen deployed using detonators to warn train crew to slow down. The inner flagman can actually hold a red flag to warn the driver to stop (after 3 detonators have been run over by the train - train will come to a complete stop).

[@dennyferguson7854]

I don’t know if they still use detonators ( I think they were called torpedoes in the US) attached to the track to warn drivers to lower their speed…..if not,maybe they should be reintroduced? Sometimes the old ways were the best.

[@stace3037]

Yes they still use them but not for routine work, only for emergencies such as a collision in fog. Planned work should obviously be signalled by appropriate speed limits etc rather than by explosives.

[@user-yi9yy7yj2p]

We do but only to protect the line, we use 3.

[@c4715]

Ridiculous! How could this happen!?

[@AW-kr9fl]

What happened here? No look out, TOWS or LOWS? Did they ignore both the train horn and the warnings from the nearby level crossing?

[@massimookissed1023]

Turned their orange pants brown.

[@rcnelson]

Supposedly way back when if a train came upon a distracted crew the shout would be "hot rail!" Everyone was immediately to drop everything and jump.

[@deltanovember1672]

Where’s the LKT?

[@jessestarks3128]

Definitely a seriously close call.

[@pootispiker2866]

Now that's what I call precision scheduled!

[@LINESTELECOMCORDEDTELEPHONES]

Watching from INDIA🇮🇳

[@trevormillar1576]

Train: NEE NAW! Track workers: Nee hee! Nicotine-stained shirt-tails!

[@sharptoothtrex4486]

Wowzers! That is a close call!

[@Wildstar40]

At least one of them was yelling like Dustin Hoffman: "Hey I'm walking here !"

[@Doe7251]

Was about to say where's the look out with the horn 🤣 but seriously lucky boys need to pay attention it life or death.

[@megastack95]

Normally you can hear and feel an oncoming train in the tracks as they vibrate and make a hissing sound. I guess they were making a lot of noise or had ear protection on.

[@firestarteronyoutube5542]

about 4 or so years back think it was 2 workers got killed near Port Talbot by a GWR HST with no lookout. Also using heavy machinery so they couldn't hear much. I thought they were supposed to have changed that?

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

They should’ve had a lookout to blow the horn when the train is approaching and then move to the safety of the cess and then acknowledge the train drivers warning by raising your hand

[@sarahwagland1559]

I received look out training when I worked for the railway but refused to do it as I couldn't bear the responsibility.

[@srvntlilly]

That's understandable. Don't know, but I think I might do the same.

[@paulnolan1352]

Ultimately Rail safety is not fail safe. Procedure and practice are implemented but shouldn’t be accepted as an absolute guarantee of safety.

[@oddities-whatnot]

The tran driver must have feared the worst, being completely unable to do anything about the situation. Whoever was in charge of those workers showed incompetence of the highest order.

[@DarthCoco]

I know this video has no sound from the situation, but that would have made it even more intense to watch. 😳 😬

[@PRATEEKsirji]

watched it in 2x and train was running at 250 mph

[@rhettcorbett3346]

Where are the detonators on track to warn of approaching train ? Or blowing the horn ?

[@shaunwarburton5974]

What was the gang leader doing while all this was going on, he is supposed to look after the crew's safety?

[@davidvincent1093]

Someone forgot to get the train the slow orders as an old foamer now I have seen this more than once when I was a conductor

[@BoogaBoy-wq3ye]

I bet they were sacked in the morning , any near misses are a stackable affence 😂

[@briansaiditsoitmustbetrue4206]

The person in charge of the crew should have been sacked for this... TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ... Please be aware this train CAN NOT just stop like a car.... I don't think people understand this. 120 MPH is a mile in just 30 Seconds. This was a total lack of safety for the crew working on the rail tracks... The person in charge of safety should have lost their job AND been fined for this.

[@jamieb8112]

They’re standing near a railway crossing, surely the bells and warning lights indicated a train was approaching?

[@xaiano794]

it was a full barrier crossing and was closed for several minutes before the train arrived, they were breaking procedures to get more work in and ignoring the crossing siren.

[@RD-ij2sz]

Why cant there be a camera system which programmed to sound horn when some thing other than tracks is captured on it .

[@TowMater603]

why was that track not at restricted speed ?

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

That's what I wondered as well. Different strokes for different folks I guess. I believe we likely have folks from several countries commenting here. Every country does thongs differently for a whole host of reasons. You would think that rational minds would come up with similar ideas to protect folks. Guess it doesn't happen that way. Or maybe we are talking apples and oranges. Not quite the same. Don't know.

[@wrsmith711]

stupid is as stupid does.... Run Forrest RUN!!!

[@RCassinello]

Why did they think the crossing lights and barriers were activated - for fun?

[@dylancarter1831]

The lookout should have informed them, mind you I can see why this is serious, and goes to show that the railway workers jobs, despite training and warnings can still be a dangerous profession.

[@DieyoungDiefast]

Question is... Where the hell is the safety lookout?

[@Rocketman88002]

They apparently were working on the non operational crossing signals!😂😂😂

[@spongebobsquarepants3770]

just start the video around 0:20 … I don’t know why stupid people have to waste our times

[@user-bl4xm6nq3v]

Disgraceful. Total ignorance or lack of a risk assessment. I always thought that a small incendiary device was placed on the track well back from the workplace so the bang would warn them of the danger. Apart from that, who the hell had the time schedule for the trains?

[@tonydelaney3536]

Stupid part is they know a train is coming because the road barrier has come down to stop the traffic - are the all, collectively stupid??

[@kevthedev9541]

Haa...just playing 'Chicken!'

[@catastrophic009]

I am guessing the train driver DID sound his horn from a distance but those guys should be a lot more aware !!

[@des_smith7658]

Wearing ear protection can be a dangerous thing

[@user-xs1yx9tc9m]

If the workers can't hear any warnings because of the noise of their own work, are there any visual warnings close to them, such as lights ? Is there a lookout with the work gang that can physically indicate for them to move when the other lookout further away signals ?🤔

[@des_smith7658]

Beware of the Engine.. As the sign once said

[@justincase6645]

Ridiculous, where is there evidence of any safety protocols?

[@Jamrodleon]

Where is the Foreman (RWIC, EIC, Flagger, Watchman lookout)? No one out here providing any protection.

[@KingmanRoss]

Definitely a communication problem.

[@captainminecraft631]

No one noticed that the grade crossing was active? Someone must’ve heard the siren, or seen the gates lower.

[@thechilledonion9313]

They were next to a level crossing and no one heard it ringing?

[@user-bh4pd2nt6d]

This is awful total lack of control from the COSS, no lookout posted. COSS should have lost his ticket for this.

[@bobbobsin3202]

80 mph capital corridor train almost got me in Richmond,ca😵

[@MojoHandle]

Still had a few seconds to spare

[@peterswires8439]

The screen says it's a Virgin train, so maybe the track workers were assuming it would be at least half an hour late.

[@jimpatrick5918]

Good thing they were safe by wearing all that Hi Viz gear!! 😂

[@Wriggs74]

Why the hell is the train travelling that fast in an area where there are workman? Surely there would speed restrictions in place. Very scary indeed.

[@erniea4424]

It makes me wonder whether the workers had notified dispatch....

[@barryallison7051]

that COSS should have been sacked .he nearly killed his men

[@modelsteamers671]

Might not have been his fault.

[@arburo1]

@@modelsteamers671 Who else?

[@modelsteamers671]

@@arburo1 Possibly the signalman.

[@arburo1]

@@modelsteamers671 On the railway the signalman has no responsibility for track workers. It's all down to the person in charge of works, and then his lookouts, but overall responsibility remains with the person in charge of works.

[@modelsteamers671]

@arburo1 As a retired signalman of 34 years I can assure that quite often the signalman has the responsibility of protecting track workers. Depending on the work to be done track workers can ask the signalman for a line blockage. It's referred to as asking for a T2 blockage. It isn't unknown for a line blockage to be granted by the signalman and for him later to forget. Thankfully it doesn't happen often but I have seen it happen.

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

I thought network rail employed the use of a machine to tell them when a train was coming, Im pretty sure I saw that as a thing from a video from the 90s

[@bmxerqf882]

Even so its still reliant on the workers paying attention to the warning

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

@@bmxerqf882 thats very true I suppose, I mean thats not a warning I would like to miss thats for sure, I would make sure it was loud enough to be heard 2 miles away

[@E34Jimmy]

Yes but workers need to look out, it's not a matter of "this machine will keep us safe" because it wont.

[@drillerkiller]

There is ATWS, TOWS, LOWS but that must be in the safe system of work. These guys simply broke the rules

[@paulnolan1352]

@@drillerkiller No these have been superseded now it’s Zolna. A Backpack Battery operated! Via Mobile phones (think hilly areas)!

[@thetools.3353]

I’m a retired formal level 2 local accident and incident investigator (local being specific to a delivery unit and route so quite a large geographical area and level 2 being the formal part of the job) and the last three incidents I investigated had similar issues to this incident. That being NWR employees treating contractors staff with utter contempt and threatening them with their jobs if they did not do as they were told. It’s typical of an authoritarian or autocratic leadership style.

[@LSZocker2009]

Darwin Award

[@brianligat9493]

Thank God the train swerved in time. Where was the lookout?!?!?

[@tomhaskett5161]

In the past, didn't the foreman or lookout always keep one foot on the rails to be able to feel the vibrations of a train?

[@cedarcam]

Thats a myth. You cannot feel anything through the rails.

[@peterd788]

Surely, there should have been detonators on the line?

[@chriswaring5565]

THEY WERE LUCKY NO ONE GOT KILLED 😮

[@Renard380]

Where is the lookout?? If the team isn't off the track by the time a train approaches the lookout, RED FLAG the train!! In fact even that procedure is so dangerous on fast lines that my country has switched to railworks protected by red signal. Thing isn't going green before EVERYONE is away from the track.

[@schwadevivre4158]

Where the F*** were the lookouts? Absolute rank incompetence of the site engineer and the foreman, perhaps they might have it pointed out that injury or fatalities would have seen them charged and at risk of imprisonment. And yes I have trained and worked as a lookoutman

[@Roybwatchin]

Those dudes in orange suits might be prison workers. They figure they don't need a spotter with a warning horn.

[@drillerkiller]

Some crazy comments on here lol. Firstly the train driver doesn't need to slow down as he doesn't know where guys are working. Secondly- the group do not require lookouts if the task they are doing is over 2mt from track. A site warden is all that is required. These clowns didn't follow the site regulations by wandering about the track without a lookout OR a site warden

[@modelsteamers671]

The line may have been blocked to traffic and the approaching train a signalmans error.

[@schwadevivre4158]

And what psychic ability told you where these men were working?

[@drillerkiller]

@schwadevivre4158 I work for a railway company, and we all got briefed on this incident. Let's just say that the group got the book thrown at them

[@schwadevivre4158]

@@drillerkiller Good - and thanks

[@iknowyoureright8564]

Why was there no lookout when working under their own protection?? Probably contractors to be honest.

[@modelsteamers671]

They may have been working in a section T blockage.

[@iknowyoureright8564]

@@modelsteamers671 if they were working under a section T blockage the train would not have gotten anywhere near them…it would have been stopped at the protecting signal to the protection.

[@modelsteamers671]

@iknowyoureright8564 Not always, the point I'm making is its not unknown for a train to be run into a blocked line. As a retired signalman of 34 years I've seen it happen, thankfully it isn't a common occurence but it does happen.

[@iknowyoureright8564]

@@modelsteamers671 I’m also a signalman, I’ve seen it once, it was because the protection was a T2x…so just the blockage arranged with signalman and reminded collars out on signals along with paperwork, BUT no additional protection such as T-cod (clip) or a disconnection of track circuit or points, this ensures that even if the signalman tried to route a train into the section, the signal wouldn’t come off because interlocking isn’t complete. Which is why I will rarely authorise a t2x, I’ll always ask if they have a t-cod to supplement the protection. If it is the case in this video that the train has been sent on into that section, then signalman is in for some bigger indeed…..snd even if it was allowed in under specific circumstances, the driver should have personally been told, there is P/way working on the up/down/single line at location ??? Just so he was aware of it, It does seem a bit strange all in all. Im 10 years into signalling, hopefully another 20 to go. A really rewarding job indeed, a lot of pressure at times, as you will well know but worth it!….defintley keeps the grey matter in good shape. I used to work in warehouses and I’d go home tired…..after some shifts I’m the signal box I go home 10 times as tired and I haven’t had to lift a thing. 😀 hope you are enjoying your retirement signaller.

[@johnbarnes5237]

I was playing my bagpipes for a wedding in Michigan and the bride and groom asked me to pipe them and their guests from the wedding site to the reception sit, which involved crossing some railroad tracks. I didn't think any thing of it. I began playing and crossed the tracks. When I turned around, I saw no one behind me. They were standing on the other side of the tracks. I was wondering what was going on when, out of nowhere, a passenger train flew by doing at least 100 mph. I damn near fainted......

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

They shouldn’t be lookout working on a high-speed network! The sighting distance also looks sub-optimal. This is criminally irresponsible and the network operator should never allow this. Probably another example of “we’ve always done it this way” and the conditions and speeds have outpaced their procedures.

[@xaiano794]

it wasn't - they were operating with TOWS and were breaking procedures to get the work done faster

[@MollydogRadar]

I think they need to work on their communications skill.

[@billlively9999]

where's that lawyer to talk about the AI to watch ppls eyes..?

[@nickk6518]

The husband of a cousin of mine was hit and killed by a train in 1925 while working on the tracks. His body was so badly mutilated, the authorities would not let the family see him.

[@gregdolecki8530]

1925?

[@nickk6518]

@@gregdolecki8530 That is correct. He was killed in 1925. His wife was on my great grand uncle's side of the family and she was one of 13 or 14 children. Even my paternal grandfather was born in 1889!

[@kaspervestergaard2383]

They fucked like rabbits my lordy. @@nickk6518

[@qp5448]

the fact that this was recorded on a low framerate

[@stevewild4449]

What happened to using detonators

[@stilusfractus7930]

I don't think that would be feasible on a busy line, where a train passes every few minutes.

[@knicol46]

Lack of health & safety concerns from anyone there