A worker was hospitalized after two railway maintenance vehicles collided last month on the High Speed Line 1, it has been reported.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), which investigates rail accidents in the UK, launched an investigation into the incident which happened near Strood in Kent on November 16.
Shortly after 4:30 a.m., a multipurpose vehicle hit a stationary road maintenance machine known as a tamper, which was preparing to couple it to another vehicle.
The RAIB said the collision caused the stationary plant to move across the track. This resulted in injuries to an operator working between the handler and the second vehicle.
Three workers on board the different machines were hit but unhurt.
“Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident,” the RAIB said.
It will also take into account the performance of those involved and everything that could have influenced it, as well as the management of the railway staff involved, including their training and competence.
The method of operation will be assessed, as well as the policies and procedures established for these tasks.
A report will be published to describe the branch’s findings, including recommendations to improve security.
The RAIB October urged Network Rail took a series of actions following a separate incident which saw a passenger train traveling at more than 100mph hit an item left on the tracks by a maintenance crew in Oxfordshire.
