At around 01:17 hrs on 18 July 2022, a passenger train entering London Paddington station while travelling at 24 mph (39 km/h) narrowly missed two track workers. The two track workers were walking very close to the line that the train was travelling on and with their backs to the approaching train. In response to the train’s second audible warning, they acknowledged its approach and moved clear of the train’s path between one and two seconds before it reached their location.

The two track workers were part of a four-person Network Rail team who were maintaining signalling and telecommunications (S&T^▸ (Signalling and Telegraph)) equipment between Paddington station and a point 63 chains (0.8 miles or 1.3 km) west of the station. The team was led by a Person in Charge (PIC, the person with overall accountability for supervising and overseeing safe implementation of the work). The PIC was also fulfilling the role of Controller of Site Safety (COSS, the person responsible for establishing and maintaining a safe system of work which ensures that track workers are protected from train movements). Three other members of the group carried out the work, including the two staff involved in the near miss.

One of the two track workers involved in the near miss was inexperienced and consequently required to wear a blue helmet while working on or near the line. Inexperienced track workers receive support and mentorship until they can display the appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviours required to work safely.

Apparently not in this case.