Misunderstanding led to near miss with 108mph passenger train at Millbrook
A van drove on to the wrong side of the railway near Millbrook and parked on lines open to traffic, all because of a misunderstanding.
The train travelling at 108mph was “between 1ft and 2ft” of almost hitting a van which had been reversed on to the tracks by railway staff as we revealed last year.
The incident happened at an access point near Millbrook on September 25, 2025 just after 11.30pm.
And according to an investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), it looks like there was a miscommunication between the person in charge – who worked for Network Rail – and the site warden, resulting in the near miss.
Thankfully, no-one was injured during the incident.
The RAIB report said: “On the night of the incident, the team met at Network Rail’s Bedford maintenance depot, adjacent to Bedford station, at around 9.30pm. The person in charge briefed the team on the planned work for that night, and on the contents of the safe work pack (SWP).
"The SWP provides details on the safety arrangements for the work, including the system of work which is to be implemented to make sure that a team is not in danger from passing trains.
"After the brief was completed, the site warden and contractors loaded the site warden’s van with the tools and equipment for the night’s work.”
However, when the person in charge went to assist the engineering supervisor at Chimney Corner, they were not initially on site when the remainder of the team arrived.
And the site warden opened the access gate on the fast line side of the track and reversed their van into the yard ready to start work.
The report added: “Witness evidence suggests that the person in charge’s intention was for the van to be positioned alongside the pedestrian access gate on the slow line side, ready to unload the equipment so it could then be carried down the steps.
"After this call, the site warden reversed the van down to the access point adjacent to the fast lines, with the intention of unloading the equipment directly on to the track.”
Amazingly, the train driver was unaware of the van and so didn’t sound the horn and the site warden, who was still in the van, didn’t see or hear the passing train.
The report added: “Witness evidence suggests that the train was ‘between 1ft and 2ft’ from the van.”
Once the van was clear of the railway, the incident was immediately reported to the control room, and the team was stood down.
Witness evidence is that the telephone conversation between the person in charge and the site warden led to a misunderstanding by the latter as to the intent of the person in charge’s instructions.
The report said: “This resulted in the site warden believing that they had authority to unload equipment onto the track, and this then led to them entering the railway without the presence of the person in charge, who was the designated a controller of site safety (COSS).
"This occurred even though the site warden themself had recently qualified as a COSS. This decision to access the track without the COSS being present was not challenged by the other staff present.
"The RAIB has not been able to determine exactly what led to the site warden confusing the two access points on the night of the incident.”