Track worker narrowly escapes being hit by train travelling at 125mph

A track worker narrowly escaped being hit by a train travelling at almost 125mph.

It happened near the Egmanton level crossing, on the East Coast Main Line between Newark and Retford.

The 10.03am passenger service from King’s Cross to Leeds was crossing on the down main line, at around 11.22am on October 5, when the driver saw a group of track workers in the distance.

The train was travelling at almost 125mph, the maximum permitted speed on the line.

The driver sounded the train’s warning horn but could see no response from the workers. After sounding the horn a few seconds, but with no response, he initiated the emergency brake while continuing to sound the horn.

As the train approached the group became aware of the train’s warning horn and started to move into the cess – an area to the side of the track where it is safe for workers to stand when trains approach.

However, the last member of the group was clear of the track very shortly before the train passed, still travelling at almost 125mph.

It eventually stopped around 0.9 miles after the point at which the driver had applied the emergency brake.

Although no one was injured, the driver – who thought that the train had hit people in the group – was distressed.

The incident is being looked at by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which will publish its findings at the conclusion of its investigation.