RAIL workers had a lucky miss when a passenger train travelling at 80mph was spotted just four seconds before it reached them.

Accident investigators said the nine track workers were "forced to take immediate evasive action" seconds before being hit while operating on a small bridge on the West Coast Main Line near Hest Bank, north Lancashire.

The Rail Investigation Branch (RAIB) said: “Some staff were unable to reach a safe position and pressed themselves against the bridge parapet.”

The group of eight contract staff and a controller of site and safety employed by Network Rail, had no prior warning on September 22, said the RAIB.

The RAIB said: “A lookout operated warning system (LOWS) was being used to give warning of approaching trains because the gang’s view was restricted by curvature of the line.

“On the afternoon of the near-miss, the LOWS equipment was being operated by two Network Rail lookouts, one on each side of the site of work and each equipped with a LOWS lookout unit.

“The lookout watching for trains on the up line was located 780 metres (approximately 0.5 mile) from the site of work, in a position which gave him a good view of trains approaching from the north.

The static unit was located near the track workers.”

The investigators added that the system gives both audible and visible warnings and the LOWS was reported to have been tested and operating normally before the incident at 2.23pm when the 12.12pm Edinburgh to Manchester Airport service came through.

“RAIB’s investigation will examine the reasons why no warning was provided to the track workers,” the RAIB said. “It will consider the sequence of events and factors that may have led to the incident, and identify any safety lessons.”