The firm pleaded guilty to a safety offence following an investigation and prosecution by industry regulator the Office of Rail and Road.

It is the second heavy fine in as many weeks following a £3.75m penalty imposed following the death of two trackworkers at Margam, Wales.

In the latest fatality, 30-year-old track worker Tyler Byrne was struck by a passenger train near to Surbiton station.

Byrne was a member of a four-person group of track workers, undertaking inspections at the location while trains were running in both directions.

There was no protection and an inadequate warning system in place, which exposed all members of the working party to the risk of being struck by a train in the course of their work.

ORR’s investigation identified failings with the planning, monitoring and supervision to ensure the workers were adequately protected while carrying out their maintenance activities on the track.

The regulator had previously served Network Rail two Improvement Notices in July 2019, requiring it to implement, preventive and protective measures necessary to safeguard workers on or near the line.

One of the notices concerned planning, and the other concerned the use of technology.

While Network Rail had made some improvements to track worker safety arrangements at the time of Byrne’s accident, its implementation across the organisation lacked urgency and pace, said the ORR.

In recent years and subsequent to the incident, there has been a vast reduction in red-zone working, when lines remain live during track work, while new technologies have been introduced to reduce the risk of harm.

Richard Hines, ORR’s HM Chief Inspector of Railways, said:  “Our deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of Tyler Byrne.

“At just 30 years old, Tyler had a bright future ahead of him – I am sure that he would have gone on to achieve all his hopes and dreams with those who he loved the most. He, however, was sadly denied that opportunity. I am so sorry for the loss of his life.

“In a period when we also remembered those who lost their lives at Margam in 2019, let us keep our focus on reducing the risks faced by our people.”