TWO railway workers removing a tree from a track avoided being hit by a near 100 mph train with just seconds to spare, a report has found. 

An investigation by the RAIB (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) said the duo was part of a team carrying out de-vegetation work in January on an embankment at Uphill Junction, near to Weston-super-Mare.

During this, a tree of around 165 mm (6.5 inches) in diameter, which had been felled, came down and landed in the Somerset cess. When the pair went to remove it, the tree became trapped on the line. 

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The two workers suddenly became aware that a train was approaching them and were able to get out of the way "several seconds" before it passed them. Part of the tree was hit by the train. 

No injuries resulted from the collision and the locomotive did not derail and sustained only minor damage.

A report read: "At around 1.10pm on 14 January, a train travelling at 95 mph had a near miss with two track workers before striking part of a tree at Uphill Junction, near to Weston-super-Mare.

"The track workers involved were part of a team that was undertaking de-vegetation work on an embankment adjacent to two open running lines. During this work, a tree of around 165 mm (6.5 inches) in diameter, which had been felled by the team, came down the embankment and landed in the cess.

"The two track workers involved in the incident went onto the line and attempted to remove the tree from the cess.

"While doing so they unintentionally moved the tree so that it became foul of one of the running lines. The track workers then became aware that a train was approaching them.

"They were able to move clear of the line several seconds before the train passed them, but part of the tree remained foul of the line and was struck by the train. No injuries resulted from the collision. The train did not derail and sustained only minor damage.

"We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

"The safety digest will be made available on our website in the near future."

A safety digest is used by the government agency rather than a full investigation when it is clear that the safety learning from an event has been identified by a previous investigation.

The agency added that the safety digest will be made available on its website in the near future, which is expected to take two to three months.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is a British government agency that independently investigates rail accidents in the United Kingdom and the Channel Tunnel in order to find a cause, not to lay blame.