Overview
- GWR pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches and was ordered to pay more than £78,000 in costs.
- Regulators described the death as a preventable tragedy following an ORR prosecution.
- Bethan Roper, 28, died on December 1, 2018 near Twerton, Bath after leaning from a droplight window and striking an overhanging branch at about 75mph.
- ORR found GWR’s 2017 risk assessment on droplight windows was neither suitable nor sufficient and was not revised despite concerns after a similar 2016 fatality and RAIB warnings.
- Since the incident, rolling stock with droplight windows has been withdrawn or retrofitted to prevent opening while trains move, and GWR said it accepts the court’s decision.