Person hit by a train - south of Dilton Marsh - 18 Jan 15

[whole diary]

[bobm]

From Journeycheck

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Salisbury 
 
Due to a person hit by a train between Westbury and Salisbury all lines are closed.

Impact: 
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 20:15 18/01.

Separately reported to be at a user worked crossing between Dilton Marsh and Warminster.  A FGW^▸ (First Great Western) service from Cardiff to Salisbury involved.

[grahame]

From the Swindon Advertiser:

POLICE have confirmed that a Warminster man aged 82 died after being struck by a train on Sunday evening at a railway crossing.

The incident occurred just after 6.15pm last night at Hollybush crossing, Warminster.

and in the article later on

Casey Snook, 15, another passenger on the service returning home to Warminster, said: ^At first we thought we had hit a branch or some stones and there was some confusion after we had stopped.

^But then it came out that we had hit someone and it^s just very nasty.^

Casey^s mum, Kate, 44, said: ^I think it was disrespectful that on the boards in the station they said that someone had been hit by a train. I don^t really think that is necessary.^

It's always difficult in these cases to handle the situation with what everyone agrees in appropriate respect.  The comment made says "this wasn't a good way to handle it".  Fair enough, but what was the alternative - I don't see Casey's mum suggesting what would have been better, and I'm not sure that I can see a better way myself.   Any thoughts, anyone?

[bobm]

An alternative is "emergency services dealing with an incident" but that may pose more questions than it answers.

[Super Guard]

In my early days on the railway, I tried to deal with an incident by reporting it to the passengers as an emergency service incident.  This did not appease many passengers until I said someone had been hit by a train and straight away a passenger who was actually shouting at me for being delayed just burst into tears with apologies.  An extreme case there, but I am firmly of the belief that the "nanny state" does not need to interfere.

Customers want honestly, whether it's pretty or not.  It's a horrible situation, but if anything the more awareness this brings to the public, the better in my view.