In a tragic incident, two dedicated railway maintenance workers, Gareth Delbridge (64) and Michael Allan Lewis (58), lost their lives after being hit by a train near Margam, Port Talbot on 3rd July 2019. The inquest into their unfortunate deaths is currently underway, with proceedings having just begun at Swansea’s Guildhall.
The two were working on the tracks when they were struck by a passenger train traveling from Swansea to London. It has since emerged that their task was unnecessary, as the track had already been upgraded. This oversight tragically cost them their lives.
Earlier this year, Network Rail faced a hefty fine of £3.75 million over safety failings related to this incident. The court stated that existing safety measures were inadequate, and their implementation was ineffective, pointing to a systemic failure in protecting these valuable workers.
A third colleague, Darren Wilkins, narrowly escaped the same fate, adding a further layer of poignancy to this incident. The inquest delves deeper into what went wrong to prevent such misfortunes in the future.
Our thoughts are with Gareth and Michael’s families as they navigate through this incredibly difficult time. Stay tuned for more updates as the inquest unfolds.