Gareth Delbridge, 64, and Michael ‘Spike’ Lewis, 58, were part of a team for Network Rail carrying out maintenance on the tracks between Port Talbot and Bridgend on 3 July 2019 when they were fatally struck by the Swansea to Paddington Great Western train.
A report into their deaths found an official lookout was not in place on the day they died.
On Friday 14 February, recorder Christian Jowett fined Network Rail was fined £3.75 million and ordered the company to pay £175,000 in costs at Swansea Crown Court for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The judge said issues surrounding safety policy had been known for some time and the firm had failed to make improvements.
The families of Mr Delbridge and Mr Lewis have acknowledged the sentencing as an important step in addressing the circumstances that led to their deaths.
In a statement, shared by Cari Sowden-Taylor, Joint Head of the Serious Injury Team at Hugh James, they said:
“On July 3rd, 2019, Gareth Delbridge and Michael Lewis lost their lives in an instant, leaving an irreplaceable void in their families and among those who knew them.
“Their tragic and untimely deaths serve as a heartbreaking reminder of the risks faced by railway workers every day.
“The profound impact of their loss continues to be felt deeply by their loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Gareth and Mike were not just workers; they were devoted family members, cherished friends, and valued members of their community. Their absence is felt in every moment, and the pain of losing them remains immeasurable.
“What makes this tragedy even more devastating is that their deaths were preventable. The failure of both their employer and the regulator to implement and enforce proper safety protocols cost them their lives.
“This should never have happened and there needs to be accountability to ensure that no other family has to endure such unimaginable loss.
“While we acknowledge the progress made in track worker safety since Gareth and Mike’s deaths, we urge all stakeholders in the railway industry to continue prioritising and improving safety measures. No life should be put at unnecessary risk due to systemic failures or inadequate protections.
“Though no amount of change can bring Gareth and Mike back, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that their deaths lead to lasting improvements in railway safety. Their legacy must be one of change – change that protects workers, saves lives, and ensures that such a tragedy is never repeated.”
Nick Millington, route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said the tragic deaths of Mr Delbridge and Mr Lewis should never have happened on our railway.
“Since this tragedy, we have continued to transform the safety of our workforce through the development of new technology and planning tools, which have almost entirely eliminated the need to work on the railway when trains are running.
“Today’s judgement reinforces why safety must always be our first consideration, and we will continue to do all we can to make our railways the safest they can be.”
Mark Phillips, chief executive of the independent organisation Rail Safety and Standards Board, said the incident was a catalyst to completely rethink track worker safety.
“Gareth and Mike were not just workers; they were devoted family members, cherished friends, and valued members of their community.
“What makes this tragedy even more devastating is that their deaths were preventable.
“The failure of both their employer and the regulator to implement and enforce proper safety protocols cost them their lives.
“While we acknowledge the progress made in safety since Gareth and Mike’s deaths, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring their deaths lead to lasting improvements in railway safety. Their legacy must be one of change.”
Network Rail has said since the tragedy, it has continued to “transform the safety of its workforce through the development of new technology and planning tools,” eliminating the need for staff to work on the railway when trains are running.
It says it’s already committed £70 million of investment to track worker safety initiatives, and has invested a total of more than £300 million to deliver an “unprecedented” level of reform to working practices.
The families remain committed to raising awareness of the need for stronger safety measures in the railway industry to prevent similar tragedies.
[Lead image: Family photos]
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