Huge fine for Network Rail over level-crossing fatality...£375,000

Network Rail has been ordered to pay more than £375,000 in fines and costs following its fourth health and safety prosecution in as many months.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Julia Canning, 55, was killed when she was struck by a train at Fairfield footpath and bridle-way crossing, near Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire, on 6 May 2009.

Mrs Canning, a mother of three and the sister-in-law of comedienne Ruby Wax, was walking her two dogs over the crossing when she was struck by the First Great Western 17:11 service travelling from Newbury to Bedwyn. One of her dogs was also killed in the collision.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) investigated the incident and discovered that Network Rail had failed to act on substantial evidence that pedestrians using the crossing had insufficient sight of approaching trains. Pedestrians were therefore exposed to an increased safety risk when using the crossing.

Network Rail appeared for sentencing at Southampton Crown Court on 12 June 2012, having pleaded guilty at Salisbury Crown Court on 10 January to breaching s3(1) of the HSWA 1974. It was fined £356,250 and ordered to pay £19,485 in costs.

After the hearing, a Network Rail spokesperson said: “Since this incident, we have made a number of improvements at the crossing, making it safer for pedestrians, including installing whistleboards and improving sighting and the surface of the crossing, something recognised by the rail regulator.