Train's 104mph near miss with worker to be reviewed

The train was on the so-called Down Fast line in Hertfordshire - about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) north of Harpenden station - when the close call occurred

An investigation is to be carried out into how a train travelling at 104mph (167km/h) narrowly missed a track worker.

The East Midlands Railway train was being driven between Luton and Harpenden, Hertfordshire, at 09:53 BST on 23 April 2023.

It came close to a worker who was crossing an underbridge in Chiltern Green which "did not have the required clearance" for people.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it would publish its findings once determined.

The independent watchdog said the track worker reached the far side of the bridge just before the train passed them.

An RAIB spokesperson said the gap between the bridge parapet and the nearest running rail appeared to be too close.

Upon arriving at the next station, the train driver reported the incident to the signaller "as they were unsure if their train had struck the track worker", the RAIB said.

They had made an emergency brake application during the incident.

The RAIB said the worker was returning from a visit to their van and was rejoining colleagues at the time.

"Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events which led to the incident," it added.