The rail infrastructure company argued its culpability for the deaths was “mis-assessed in relation to that of others” and that the overall fine was excessive.
Network Rail and Carillion were forced to pay more than £1m in fines after the deaths of two track laying workers in Hednesford, Staffordshire in September 2004. Carillion’s share of the fine was £444,444.
Three men who were responsible for the vehicle on the day were also fined.
Refusing the appeal, Lord Justice Hooper concluded: “This is a case where the failures were significant and the consequences were the deaths of two workers.
“The sentence was severe but not so severe that we should reduce it on appeal.”
David Pennington, 45, a father-of-five from Cog Lane, Burnley and Martin Oates, 38, from Sheffield, were doing maintenance work when they were killed at 4.30am by the vehicle on the Trent Valley Line.