'We can't tolerate more deaths' says a Network Rail boss after Port Talbot tragedy

Network Rail has announced a £70 million task force to improve safety following the deaths of two workers near Port Talbot .

Gareth Delbridge and Michael ‘Spike’ Lewis were killed on Wednesday, July 3, as they worked on the line in Port Talbot. 

Police confirmed the men were wearing ear defenders when they were killed and couldn’t hear the train approaching.

Announcing the new task force today, Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s group safety, technical and engineering director, said: “We will make it safer to work on the railway than it is today. 

“Everyone should expect to get home safe, every day, and while our track record has been good and improving, there are still too many close-calls and that will be addressed.

“The tragic deaths in Wales last week are a stark reminder to us all that more needs to be done.

"We will rise to that challenge as losing more of our railway family is not something we can tolerate."

The scene following the Port Talbot tragedy:

Emergency services at the scene near Port Talbot

Earlier this week, the RMT Union was in Bridgend calling for an end to ‘red zone working,’ or maintaining lines that are being actively used by trains.

The funding also comes in response to concerns raised by The Office of Rail and Road (ORR,) the railway safety regulator, which gave Network Rail two notices to improve on July 8.

The ORR has said the notices were not in response to the deaths in Port Talbot last week, but it was currently investigating the incident.

Floral tributes were left for the rail workers who were killed (Jonathan Myers)

The incident happened near Port Talbot last week (Jonathan Myers)

“We look forward to working with Network Rail and the trades unions to achieve the necessary improvement in track worker safety,” an ORR spokesperson said.

The money will be spent on improved planning for track-side work, a ‘fatigue improvement programme’ to increase alertness and better manage work time, more thorough risk management and a ‘safety hour programme,’ which is a weekly meeting to discuss health and safety concerns.      

Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “I don’t want to see another track-worker death, which is why we are today creating a new team backed by a hefty budget to drive change and make working on the railway safer for our people. I can’t think of a more important task.”

According to Network Rail figures, 35 track workers have been killed on the railways since 2000.