Network Rail fined £1.2m after wall collapse at Rugby station seriously injured elderly man
Edward Hanlon, then 81, suffered fractured ribs and a punctured lung when the wall fell on him in 2022
Network Rail has been fined £1.2 million after a station wall collapsed at Rugby Station and seriously injured an elderly man.
Regulator the Office of Rail and Road said it prosecuted the Government-owned company after a boundary wall beside a car park at Rugby station, Warwickshire, fell on to Edward Hanlon, then 81, who was walking along the adjacent alleyway.
Mr Hanlon suffered several fractured ribs, a punctured lung and a blood clot in his lung.
The ORR said the incident in September 2022 had a “lasting impact” on him physically and mentally, leaving him in “persistent pain” and preventing him from returning to “many of the activities he had previously enjoyed”.
Mr Hanlon died in January 2025 after a diagnosis of lymphoma, which is a type of blood cancer.
Network Rail owned the wall and was responsible for its maintenance, but the installation of a fence in front of it by a previous tenant led to the mistaken assumption that the fence marked the station boundary, the ORR said
The wall was consequently omitted from Network Rail’s inspections, and its deteriorating condition was not identified, according to the regulator.
The ORR said Network Rail was fined £1.2 million at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday after admitting an offence under health and safety at work legislation.
Richard Hines, the ORR’s HM chief inspector of railways, said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr Hanlon’s family and friends.
“The sentence imposed by the court reflects the seriousness of Network Rail’s failings and the devastating consequences when infrastructure is not managed effectively.
“Duty holders must know which assets they are responsible for, carry out appropriate inspections, and take timely action to address defects before they pose a risk to people.
“This prosecution sends a clear message that ORR will not hesitate to take enforcement action where failures to manage safety expose workers or members of the public to serious harm.”
Gary Walsh, route director for Network Rail, said: “We are deeply sorry for the incident at Rugby station in September 2022, for the injuries suffered by Mr Hanlon and the distress caused to his family.
“Following the incident, we reviewed the circumstances surrounding the wall, took action to address the immediate risks and strengthened processes relating to asset records, boundary identification and inspection management.
“While incidents of this nature are rare, we remain committed to continually improving the safety of our infrastructure for passengers, neighbours and the wider public.”