Near-miss of train and van prompts investigation

The accident occurred at an access point near Millbrook station in Bedfordshire

An investigation has been launched after a high speed passenger train nearly collided with a van parked on railway tracks.

The incident happened at 23:34 (BST) on 25 September near Millbrook station in Bedfordshire when the train was travelling at 108mph (174km/h).

Nobody was injured and there was no damage but the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) will publish safety recommendations once its report has been completed.

In a preliminary assessment, it said staff planned to carry out work on two lines closed to trains but reversed a works' van onto a track that was still open.

No details have been published about how many passengers were on the train when the near-miss happened.

According to the preliminary findings, railway staff involved planned to work on the "up and down slow" lines which were blocked to rail traffic.

However, they instead accessed the tracks adjacent to the up and down fast lines, which were still open to normal train services.

"At the time of the near miss, the van was positioned on the down fast line, with its rear close to the up fast line on which the train was travelling," the RAIB said.

The full safety report is due to be published "in the coming weeks".