Rail recruiter McGinley Recruitment Services has been fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £24,000 costs for its "substantial" failings following the death of a student on a railway line.

Michael Mungovan, 22, a casual railway worker supplied by McGinley to construction firm Balfour Beatty, died after being struck from behind near Vauxhall station by a train travelling at 50mph in the early hours of October 9, 2000.

Mungovan, from County Cork, Ireland, who had only worked seven night shifts, was walking with a colleague on a main fast line.

The Old Bailey heard on Thursday that McGinley failed to properly coach Mungovan and that his acting supervisor was not adequately trained.

Richard Beynon, prosecuting, said: "McGinley's failures were substantial. They didn't provide the competencies that Balfour Beatty wanted."

Both McGinley and Balfour Beatty pleaded guilty to charges of failing to ensure that Mungovan was safe and failing to ensure he was informed about hazards. Judge Kramer, QC, also ordered Balfour Beatty to pay a £150,000 fine.