Person hit by train at Ealing Broadway - 10th February 2013

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) JourneyCheck

Owing to a person hit by a train between London Paddington and Slough all lines are blocked.

Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 45 mins at short notice. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

Service involved was the 15:48 Heathrow T5 to London Paddington (Heathrow Express) service.

[James Vertigan]

Picking up news of a fatality at Ealing Broadway a little earlier this afternoon.

As always, thoughts with the train crew involved and the family of the deceased.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between London Paddington and Slough
Following a person hit by a train earlier between London Paddington and Slough all lines have now reopened.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 mins at short notice. Disruption is expected until 18:00 10/02.
Message Received: 10/02/2013 17:44

[TonyK]

From Twitter:

First Great Western @FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

For Information. Owing to a person hit by a train between London Paddington and Slough all lines are blocked.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting, FTN, but as this relates to the same incident, I've moved your post and merged it here. 

[trainer]

I was on the 16:03 to Bristol TM^‡(resolve) (BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)) which only got as far as Acton before being sent back to Paddington.  It was re-started at approx 16:58 as a fast service to Chippenham then picking up the normal calling pattern of Bath Spa, and BRI.  In all his announcements the Train Manager reminded us that all the disruption was because of 'a tragedy' at Ealing, which I think helped us keep things in proportion.

However, there was major disruption to many people as all those for Reading, Didcot Pkwy and Swindon disembarked and re-boarded the service behind, and many waiting for the later service boarded our train giving the standard class section the air of the rush hour and many standing for over an hour.  The train manager (I think wisely) checked no tickets in first class and a few 'lucky' pax travelled in comfort they hadn't paid for (I was on 1st Class Rover) and although not announcing that he was not enforcing the rules , tacitly did so.  He also kept us informed personally (before the train filled to bursting) by walking through the train.

The upshot was that I was only 55 minutes late at BRI and the set and crew were positioned to return on the 19:00 to Paddington.  I believe full marks are due to those who were able to deal with the original incident with alacrity (and I hope sensitivity) those who decided to run the service fast to Chippenham and the train crew for keeping us informed.  The down side was the severe overcrowding for much of the journey, but since those who packed onto the train after its return to Paddington could have caught the train they had originally gone for and probably had a seat after Reading, there may have been an element of a self-inflicted wound.  Because I don't know what was announced on the platform, I can't reach a full judgement about this.

I was fortunate.  There will be those tonight with less happy images of dealing with what happened and at least one family bereft of a loved one.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting those constructive and thought-provoking comments, trainer.

[Ollie]

Thanks for posting those constructive and thought-provoking comments, trainer.

My understanding is the person in question didn't die at the scene and was taken by paramedics, so I do hope that the person gets the help they need and has a speedy recovery.

Thoughts do of course go to those involved who witnessed it all.

[trainer]

Thanks for that update Ollie.  That may explain why the lines re-opened so swiftly.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Wales rugby fans suffer train disruption in London

Wales rugby fans coming home by train following the Six Nations win over France in Paris could face long delays.

First Great Western services between London Paddington and south Wales have been disrupted after a person was hit by a train at Ealing Broadway. Services may be cancelled or delayed by up to 45 minutes at short notice, said the train operator.

Fans returning to west Wales by train on Sunday already faced up to 75 minutes added to journey times.

Engineering work meant First Great Western and Arriva Trains Wales services were suspended between Cardiff and west Wales with buses running instead.

Wales beat France 16-6 on Saturday, their first win in this year's Six Nations.

[bobm]

Thanks for posting those constructive and thought-provoking comments, trainer.

My understanding is the person in question didn't die at the scene and was taken by paramedics, so I do hope that the person gets the help they need and has a speedy recovery.

Thoughts do of course go to those involved who witnessed it all.

Indeed so, as reported by the Ealing Gazette

AN ELDERLY woman is recovering in hospital after being hit by a train on Sunday.

The victim, believed to be in her 70s, was treated at the scene for head injuries Ealing Broadway station.

A witness who asked not to be named, said he was on the other side of the platform when she was hit by the fast-moving overground train which was not stopping at the station.

He said: ^I heard a loud bang and tuned around and then I saw something on the platform. I didn^t realise it was a person until I got closer and then ran quickly to alert staff and called an ambulance. She was bleeding quite heavily from her face but she was breathing. The train had stopped further down the track.

^It was a shock. I^m just glad to hear she wasn^t more seriously hurt."

Four ambulances, medics in a motorbike and one in a car as well as the team from London's air ambulance in a car were sent at about 4.10pm. She was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington by ambulance escorted by a doctor from the air ambulance. Her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The station was closed for about half an hour.

British Transport Police are still investigating the cause of the accident but say they are not treating it as suspicious.

[Brucey]

Passing through stations at high speed, it can be quite shocking to see how close some people stand to the edge, even after the driver has used the horn.

[trainer]

I am grateful to have all these updates and I am not going to speculate specifically on why this poor lady came to be struck, but I agree with Brucey's last observation.  While waiting at Yatton on 4th Feb I noticed a teenage girl with a pair of earphones clasped to her ears standing close to the edge of the platform even after a recorded and visual announcement was made to stand clear because a non-stop service was passing through.  I was too far away to have made myself heard even if she had not had music pounding in her ears.  Fortunately she casually looked up and sauntered over the yellow line as the Crosscountry train, probably going at line speed (100mph at Yatton I think), reached the platform possibly having heard the horn, but she seemed completely unconcerned. 

On another occasion I watched a wheeled suit case blow over towards the platform edge as a goods train passed through and thought then that they can create as much turbulence, or more, as a fast passenger train.  Perhaps the yellow line warnings need to be more prominently signed at station entrances.  I hesitate to advocate yet more signage, but if it is effective is preventing accidents, it is a good thing.

[paul7575]

 
On another occasion I watched a wheeled suit case blow over towards the platform edge as a goods train passed through and thought then that they can create as much turbulence, or more, as a fast passenger train. 

They definitely make far more turbulence, which is why yellow lines on platforms are required for freight at 60 mph, but not for passenger trains unless they exceed 100 mph.  Many existing yellow lines are not actually required under the current group standard - which might be why they are often ignored...

http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Infrastructure/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GIRT7016%20Iss%204.pdf

Paul

[johoare]

It worries me at Slough too.. since the Windsor train comes in right next to the fast up mainline platform.. And I would imagine it might have a higher than average amount of tourists on or people that aren't used to that station at least..