A MAN who was killed by a train near Charlbury on Wednesday was a rail worker believed to be in his fifties.

He was struck by a First Great Western train travelling from London Paddington to Great Malvern on Wednesday at 11.40am.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

British Transport Police officers and ambulance paramedics were called to Catsham Lane Bridge, between Charlbury and Chadlington, shortly before noon, but the man was declared dead at the scene.

Network Rail spokeswoman Anne-Marie Batson said: “Sadly, a rail worker was struck and fatally injured by a train near Charlbury.

“Emergency services attended the scene assisted by Network Rail staff. “The police subsequently declared the incident to be non-suspicious.

“As a result, the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) confirmed it would not be investigating.”

However Office of Rail Regulation spokesman Brian Clarke said: “We are gathering information on the fatality to establish what investigation is needed.”

Richard Fairhurst, who looks after transport issues for Charlbury Town Council, said: “It’s a very sad thing. We haven’t had anything like that on the railway line for years.”

He said Network Rail had been carrying out work in the area.

Mr Fairhurst added: “People have been wondering whether it’s something connected to the work going on.”