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Author Topic: Explosive Bottom - what should GWR do about it?  (Read 8268 times)
grahame
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« on: August 09, 2018, 19:47:15 »

From The Mirror

Quote
Passengers experienced a train journey from hell after a dog suffered an "explosive bottom" in the middle of the aisle.

Train-goers on the packed journey were forced to use magazines to weigh down the paper laid on top of the mess by train staff, who did not actually clean it up.

Travellers were left gagging from the stench for four hours until the train reached its destination.

The incident happened on the Great Western Railway (GWR (Great Western Railway)) service from Devon to London on Sunday.

Florence Beasley, 23, from London, has formally complained to GWR after spending £36.15 for her disastrous journey from her home in Newton Abbot, Devon.

Is it reasonable to expect train staff to clean up right away?
Personal view - no, up to dog's owner

What (if any) are the compensation rights in a case like this?
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broadgage
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« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2018, 20:15:55 »

I would say that the owner of the dog should clear up, so far as they can. It is most unlikely however that they would be equipped to properly clear up that sort of mess.

It is not reasonable for the on train staff to do much either, for want of suitable supplies and protective equipment.

I have long held the view that emergency equipment on trains should include a large bag of cat litter or equivalent absorbent odour neutralising material. It is cheap and has an unlimited shelf life.

Useful for incidents as described and also for
Human waste or vomit as may result from illness or drunkenness.
Spilled oil, as might result from dropped shopping containing cooking oil or motor oil.
Spillages of paint, or semi liquid food stuffs.
Anything else that is unpleasant or dangerous.

Any employee can open a bag of cat litter and apply it at arms length as needed.

Not of course a "cure all" but it would limit and control the problem until properly equipped cleaners can deal with it.

In many years of rail travel I have witnessed several episodes in which the application of cat litter or similar would have minimised damage to railway property and complaints from passengers.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Timmer
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« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2018, 21:26:53 »

That is most unfortunate and these things can and do happen. Note it was a train going via Bristol. Shame that there was no cleaning crew available to meet the train to do a clean up job before it continued to London.

Yes it would have taken a few minutes, but better to have a small delay than have the offending mess on board all the way to London.
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didcotdean
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« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2018, 21:52:27 »

Notable maybe that dogs are the only animal that doesn't have to be inside a fully enclosed basket or carrier whilst on board although the bylaws still requires the person in charge not to allow it to foul or damage any part of the railway. If that does happen then the person in charge is liable for the cost of putting the property soiled or damaged back into its proper condition.  So what preparations should be made ...?
« Last Edit: August 09, 2018, 22:04:19 by didcotdean » Logged
johnneyw
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« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2018, 22:03:43 »

It seems unjust for the other passengers to have the consequences of the owners actions transferred to them. Any pet ownership comes with responsibilities although it sounds like this was far more than a dog poo bag case (and certainly no tree branch to hang it on). If the owner knew the dog was prone to these events the my sympathy is nil.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2018, 22:11:11 »

It certainly reinforces the impression that GWR (Great Western Railway) operate a crap service every Sunday.
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devonexpress
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« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2018, 22:43:14 »

As a dog owner myself, I always carry several bags in a holdall attached to the lead. In my own view, they should have made sure the dog had done its jobs before boarding, and had bags to enable them to pick it up.  Frankly considering food and drink is consumed in the same air conditioned coaches it is completely unacceptable, and could potentially break health and safety laws even if it was covered up.

As others have said, cleaning staff at Exeter, Taunton, Bristol or even Reading could have boarded to quickly clean it up, seems to me its a case of a can't be bothered attitude some GWR (Great Western Railway) staff seem to have these days.
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2018, 07:41:28 »

It seems unjust for the other passengers to have the consequences of the owners actions transferred to them. Any pet ownership comes with responsibilities although it sounds like this was far more than a dog poo bag case (and certainly no tree branch to hang it on). If the owner knew the dog was prone to these events the my sympathy is nil.

Indeed - as a dog owner who travels on trains with dogs from time to time, I take responsibility for my pets and travel prepared for "every" eventuality.  They're family and cleaning up after them - as clearing up after your child - is something that in natural and (personally) is something I can do for them that would make me feel sick for someone else's dog or child.  Journeys with children or pets are planned to minimise the risk of accidents in the first place too.   Yet having said that, occasionally you may be surprised when your responsibility behaves or is ill out of character and embarrasses you.
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sikejsudjek3
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« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2018, 16:53:26 »

Well given GWR (Great Western Railway) seem utterly incapable of cleaning up their own on train toilets (in the rare event they're actually working) on certain lines it doesn't surprise me they weren't able to clear this mess up. Cardiff to Portsmouth on the 158's was particularly dire when the units ran out of water during the journey....
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martyjon
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« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2018, 17:17:40 »

I was on a cl150 unit once coming home and the only toilet was locked out of use, many passengers were children returning from a day at the seaside and I demanded the guard / train manager unlock the toilet and asked him if would treat his grandchildren by denying them the use of the toilet. He unlocked it, it was clean, the flush still worked and even still worked when I used it before the train got to my station. Talking to another guard / train manager, he said that if the toilet water tank is not topped up overnight at the depot then it was assumed the tank was empty and the depot staff locked the toilet out of use and couldn't be bother to inform a main station to have the platform water bowser waiting to meet the train to perform the task. In the days of BR (British Rail(ways)) this was a regular sight at BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) at weekends with services such as Newcastle to Paignton, Leeds to Plymouth, Manchester to Penzance, etc.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2018, 15:15:30 »

The owners details should have been taken & an invoice forwarded for the cost of clean up.

Dogs do have accidents but the owner is responsible for the animal's actions where it affects others. Period.

If it was explosive, I suspect the excrement was more liquid than solid and doggie bags wouldn't have managed much of a clean up.
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