Seconds before the collision a member of staff jumped off the trolley and clear of the train. A van, inside which another member of staff was unloading equipment, was parked close to the railway and was very nearly struck by the train.
The accident occurred just before midnight on 16 January 2014 and involved the 22:36 service from Manchester Piccadilly to Shrewsbury.
At the point of impact the train, formed by a class 175 diesel multiple unit operated by Arriva Trains Wales, was travelling at approximately 85 mph. It braked to a stand in around half a mile.
Although the train did not derail, it suffered significant damage, including a ruptured fuel tank. The member of staff who jumped clear suffered minor injuries.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch will establish the sequence of events, examine how the work was planned, how the staff involved were being managed and the way in which railway safety rules were applied. It will also seek to understand the actions of the track workers involved, and factors that may have influenced their behaviour and attitudes.
The RAIB will also assess the railway industry’s current strategy for undertaking work of this type, and will review the actions taken in response to previous RAIB recommendations relating to the safety of track workers.
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