A volunteer member of staff was seriously injured after being struck by a train wagon on the private Gartell Light Railway in Somerset. The accident occurred near the Common Lane level crossing on Thursday, April 17, at approximately 9:35 a.m.
According to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), the wagon was part of a train transporting staff, equipment, and materials to a work site. The injured volunteer was attempting to disembark from the wagon when the incident happened. The train was operating at a slow speed, and the railway was not open to the public at the time.
Following the incident, the RAIB conducted a preliminary examination and opted to release a safety digest rather than a full investigation. This decision was made because existing safety procedures had been followed and the key safety lessons had already been identified.
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The RAIB statement noted: “At 09:35 on Thursday 17 April 2025, a volunteer member of staff was struck by a wagon and seriously injured near to Common Lane level crossing on the Gartell Light Railway. The railway was not open to the public when the accident occurred. The wagon involved was part of a train transporting staff, equipment, and materials to a site of work. The train was moving at a slow speed when the accident occurred.”
This incident underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance and safety measures on railways, even those operating on private or non-public lines.