AN INVESTIGATION into a rail accident which led to a signal technician having his leg amputated has prompted new safety recommendations.

The technician was working on a set of points at Kennington junction, south of Oxford, at about 9.45pm on May 23 last year, when he was hit by a First Great Western London to Oxford train travelling at 89mph.

Two people he was working with were not hurt.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has made recommendations to try to prevent similar accidents in the future.

The RAIB said the immediate cause of the accident was that the technician failed to move to a safe position off the tracks when a lookout warned of an approaching southbound freight train.

Shortly afterwards, he was struck by the approaching northbound passenger train.

The report recommended Network Rail to investigate working methods that would provide better protection for staff doing track maintenance work.

Network Rail spokesman Russell Spink said last night: “Network Rail is committed to providing a safe, reliable and efficient modern railway.

“Our safety record is good and injuries among our workforce are rare. Network Rail has worked with RAIB throughout its investigation.

“We welcome the final report and will give serious consideration to any recommendations which will reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future.”

No-one was availabe to comment at First Great Western tonight.