Railway 200: Keeping track workers safe

2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Britain and the world changed forever. Railway 200 celebrates the past, present and future of rail.

Nick Millington recently led the Network Rail Safety Task Force (STF), which focused on modernising the approach to maintaining our railway in a conscious effort to significantly reduce the risk of track workers being struck by a train.

The STF was established in 2019, and was set up with three main aims: to get rid of unassisted lookout working; make sure all line blocks are protected; and for all work on track to meet Network Rail’s 019 standard (Safety of People at Work On or Near the Line). As a result of the hard work of the STF team it is now safer to work on track.