The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has issued a Safety Digest today (Tuesday, May 6) following a major incident that took place on Thursday, 17 April 2025, at the 2ft gauge Gartell Light Railway in Somerset.

During a day when the railway wasn’t open to the public, a track maintenance train was on its way to a worksite carrying materials and staff.

Just before the train came to a complete stop at the worksite near Common Lane Level Crossing, a member of staff was attempting to get off and fell from the train, hitting the leading bogie on the flatbed wagon pictured in the image above, causing it to derail.

The train was travelling at a slow speed when the incident occurred.

Regardless of speed, the member of staff suffered serious injuries in the incident.

This incident highlights only too well the dangers of alighting from trains when they are moving, regardless of which gauge the railway is.

Just recently, a near miss was also witnessed at a miniature railway in West Sussex when a child jumped on board a moving train from the side of the line, which could have had serious consequences for the passengers on board had the child fallen under the train.