STORY
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched a formal inquiry following a dangerous near miss involving a South Western Railway passenger train and a team of three track workers inside Bookham Tunnel, Surrey, on 29 April 2025.
At approximately 11:44 am, a southbound service passed through Bookham Tunnel at around 30 mph (48 km/h) as the workers were returning to Bookham station after maintaining tunnel-end telephones. Two of the workers sought safety in purpose-built refuges, while the third worker leant against the tunnel wall as the train swept past. Fortunately, there were no injuries and no damage to infrastructure or rolling stock.
Initial findings indicate that a line blockage had been requested from the signalling centre but, due to an administrative error, the protection applied to nearby Mickleham Tunnel instead of Bookham Tunnel. The RAIB investigation will:
Reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the incorrect line blockage
Examine planning and risk-management procedures for on-track work
Review the roles, responsibilities and working patterns of the staff involved
Identify any underlying management or organisational factors
Stephen Wilkinson, RAIB Chief Inspector, said:
“Although no one was harmed on this occasion, the proximity of moving trains to track-side workers represents a significant safety risk. Our independent investigation will aim to uncover how the procedural breakdown occurred and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.”