Babcock Rail has been fined after a worker was crushed and injured while carrying out work to a rail track in north-east Wales.

The engineering company pleaded guilty for breaches under Section 2(1)of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £400,000.

The court heard how a rail worker was carrying out track renewal work at Hope Railway Station in Flintshire on 08 March 2013.

However, the employee was struck by a Road-Rail Vehicle (RRV) and was trapped against the platform edge of station.

The incident left the worker with injuries to their legs, abdomen and back.

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An investigation by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) discovered Babcock Rail was aware of the risk of collision between maintenance vehicles and workers renewing the track at Hope Station.

However, it failed to take appropriate steps to prevent its employees coming to harm following inadequate planning, coordination and communication between managers.

In addition, a 3mph speed limit for vehicles was not being monitored or enforced, and no attempts were made to set up exclusion zones or positions of safety for those working near moving vehicles.

Ian Prosser, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Railways said: "This was an avoidable incident which left a rail worker with serious injuries. Babcock Rail's safety management fell below the standards required, as inadequate planning and coordination of track renewals placed workers in unnecessary danger.

"Safety of rail workers is one of the regulator's key priorities and we will take appropriate action against companies or individuals wherever failings are found."

(LM)