The recent incident at the Gartell Light Railway in Somerset has brought rail safety into sharp focus. On 17 April 2025, a staff member fell from a moving track maintenance train near the Common Lane level crossing. The flatbed wagon they struck derailed at slow speed. While no passengers were on board, the event triggered a Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Safety Digest and underlined safety risks at heritage lines across the UK. This Gartell Light Railway incident reminds us how vital it is to follow established procedures whenever a train moves, even at a gentle pace.
On that spring morning, the maintenance crew at Gartell Light Railway was carrying out routine work. The train was not open to the public and moved slowly toward the worksite. As one staff member tried to step off the train, they missed their footing and fell against the leading bogie of an empty flatbed wagon. The slow-speed derailment injured the employee seriously. Even though the train’s pace was gentle, the impact was enough to derail a wagon. It serves as a clear lesson: exiting a train in motion carries grave risks, regardless of the size or gauge of the track.
In response, the RAIB issued a detailed Safety Digest. It highlights common dangers when people leave moving vehicles and reminds all railway operators to stick to strict safety routines. Staff must wear the right protective gear, follow agreed procedures and check that any vehicle has stopped before boarding or alighting. The Safety Digest also recommends refresher training and clear communication at every stage of maintenance work. These steps aim to prevent similar incidents on heritage lines, industrial railways and mainline networks alike.
This is not the first time heritage operations have faced a close call. Earlier this year, a miniature railway in West Sussex saw a child jump on a moving train. Thankfully, the small locomotive was not travelling fast, and no one was hurt. Still, that near-miss echoes the dangers reported at Gartell. Both events show how easy it can be to misjudge a moving train’s clearance and balance, whether on large or small rails. They remind us that a slip, a misstep or a moment’s distraction may lead to serious harm.
Heritage railways owe much of their appeal to the sense of history they preserve. They run on routes shaped by Victorian engineers, echoing an era when rail travel first reshaped life in Britain. The polished levers, hand-built carriages and the rhythmic clickety-clack on aged sleepers all add to a timeless experience. That experience must always be matched by careful planning and staff training. From signalling checks to wheel inspections, every task forms part of a safety chain that must never be broken.
Safeguarding staff and visitors begins long before engines fire up. It involves risk assessments, clear instructions and strict guidelines for every operation. At Gartell, teams are now reviewing their safety briefings, ensuring every staff member knows exactly how to step on and off a maintenance train. They are reinforcing messages about the importance of waiting until a train has fully halted. By doing this, the railway aims to uphold its reputation as both a treasured attraction and a model of good practice.
Image credit www.railadvent.co.uk
Original source https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/05/report-released-after-person-suffers-serious-injuries-at-somerset-heritage-railway.html
