Network Rail Fined £3.75m Following Margam Track Worker Deaths
On 14 February 2025, the UK Office of Rail and Road (ORR) announced that Network Rail had been fined £3.75m following the tragic deaths of two track workers in Margam, South Wales, in July 2021.
The incident, which occurred on 3 July 2021, involved a group of track workers who were struck by a train while carrying out maintenance work on a section of track near Margam station.
Following a thorough investigation, the ORR found that Network Rail had failed to adequately plan and manage the work, leading to a number of safety breaches.
Specifically, the ORR found that:
- Network Rail had failed to properly assess the risks associated with the work and had not put in place appropriate measures to control those risks.
- The work was not properly planned, with insufficient resources and time allocated to complete the task safely.
- The workers were not adequately briefed on the hazards of the work and were not provided with appropriate training.
- The work was not properly supervised, with no one taking overall responsibility for safety.
The ORR’s investigation also found that Network Rail had failed to learn from previous incidents and had not implemented a number of safety recommendations that had been made following similar incidents.
As a result of its findings, the ORR imposed a fine of £3.75m on Network Rail, which is one of the largest fines ever imposed by the regulator. The ORR also ordered Network Rail to implement a number of safety improvements, including:
- Reviewing and revising its safety management systems
- Improving its risk assessment and planning processes
- Providing additional training to its staff
- Appointing a dedicated safety manager for each of its regions
Network Rail has accepted the fine and has apologized for the tragic deaths of the two track workers.
The ORR’s decision sends a clear message to the rail industry that safety must be the top priority. The regulator will not hesitate to take enforcement action against companies that fail to meet their safety obligations.
The deaths of the two track workers at Margam were a preventable tragedy. The ORR’s investigation has identified a number of serious safety failings that led to the incident.
Network Rail must now take immediate action to implement the safety improvements that have been ordered by the ORR. The regulator will continue to monitor the company’s progress closely and will take further action if necessary.
The safety of the rail network must be the top priority for all involved in the industry.
Network Rail fined £3.75m following Margam track worker deaths
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