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Children 'train surfing' in Maesteg & Garth

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ANorthernGuard

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I remember as a kid a film they showed of a lad (a keen footballer)crossing 3rd rail and losing the use of his legs. It was well made and certainly put me off. Something like that would help nowadays

Found the none 3rd rail version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Lx67rr8B7dk

it was called Robbie

and this was made before...pretty graphic compared to the our PC days

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QzrG9h_Y4Y&NR=1

maybe if these types of films were shown now maybe if they just saved one life it would be worth it!
 
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jon0844

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You sure? There's a strong case for it being on the BBC. You could class it as a Public Service Broadcast I reckon.

Yeah, I guess BBC 3 might suit it too! Only downside is they don't broadcast in HD. I think it needs to be HD, maybe even the first programme filmed in Ultra HD...
 

GatwickDepress

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I've seen them clinging on holding onto an open hopper window. Some young lad injured himself when he got stuck after someone slammed the hopper shut and he hit the tunnel at North Shields. His Mum tried to sue Nexus for negligence :roll:

I've also heard about them doing it through an open cab window in a 142 too
I hope she was laughed out of court. If I tried something as stupid as that, my mother would've marched straight down to the station to make me apologise to every staff member and passenger there was. Or at least, something as equally humiliating...like lick a whole 4Cig clean.

Has there been any other attempts - or indeed successes - by money-grabbers/sufferers of special snowflake syndrome to sue the railways for "negligence"?
 

Flamingo

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Has there been any other attempts - or indeed successes - by money-grabbers/sufferers of special snowflake syndrome to sue the railways for "negligence"?

Isn't the whole point of the "Where there's blame there's a claim" industry to make claims that it is cheaper for insurance companies and big firms to pay out rather than contest them, regardless of how unlikely?
 

Anon Mouse

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How dangerous is this and are they really hurting anyone else?

I realise I'm sticking my neck out here, but young men (especially) have a need for risk and excitement. It's a need we've been happy enough to exploit in the past when there were empires to build and wars to win.

Personally I'd rather they 'surfed' a train than joyrode a car.

I can't belive what I'm reading! Who would get the blame if one of these 'thrill seekers' get killed? No doubt blame will be directed at Metrolink, the driver may get blamed as 'he never checked the tram was clear'. <D
 

GatwickDepress

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Isn't the whole point of the "Where there's blame there's a claim" industry to make claims that it is cheaper for insurance companies and big firms to pay out rather than contest them, regardless of how unlikely?
I'm blissfully ignorant of the entire insurance/legal industry, so I'm afraid I really wouldn't know.
 

D365

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How dangerous is this and are they really hurting anyone else?

I realise I'm sticking my neck out here, but young men (especially) have a need for risk and excitement. It's a need we've been happy enough to exploit in the past when there were empires to build and wars to win.

Personally I'd rather they 'surfed' a train than joyrode a car.

Like others have said previously, are you serious? In both examples one risks the safety and potentially lives of not just oneself but those around them. Use vehicles how they are designed to be used. If you want excitement, take up a sport of some sort, perhaps karting or similar motors.
 

Flamingo

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The point also is that these are children, deemed incapable of having the judgement to make an adequate risk assessment (hence the reason legislation prevents them from undertaking most employment or for example, driving).

After all the posts about the railways duty of care to vulnerable people in recent months, this would be an open and shut case if active measures were not taken to prevent and educate them .
 

swj99

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How dangerous is this and are they really hurting anyone else?

I realise I'm sticking my neck out here, but young men (especially) have a need for risk and excitement................

Personally I'd rather they 'surfed' a train than joyrode a car.

When I was young, I never had a need for risk and excitement. Maybe there was enough in my life back then anyway. I know some people enjoy adrenaline rushes more than others.

I think I get where you're coming from about this, on the basis that you're more likely to hurt someone else joyriding a car.

Maybe it’s a question of degree, in that some of the people who do this seem to have a degree in stupidity. Some have an AS level, others have O levels, although a qualification is not necessary, or compulsory at all. Joking aside, what I mean is there are degrees of stupidity. There are dangers involved in getting out of bed, but it’s not generally considered stupid to get out of bed, although there are risks. You’d have to ask a bookmaker or an insurance loss adjuster for the exact levels of risk involved. But holding onto a moving train clearly involves a higher level of risk, and in most cases, a large amount of stupidity.
I was told once that train surfing bears similarities to extreme sports, in that the stakes are higher if you jump off a bridge with a bit of elastic tied to your leg, ride on the roof of a train, etc, than for example, going horse riding, or playing a game of football.
 

BestWestern

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Just hope something is done before there is a fatality and the Guard ends up getting the blame for assuming they would move away.

Just to pick up on this. If a Guard did indeed 'assume' that somebody would move away, then they would be guilty as charged I'm afraid.

On the wider subject of idiots doing things like this, I'd be tempted to say 'sod em', I really couldn't care less if they end up across the ballast. However, we do have to consider those who then have to deal with it, and the delayed passengers, which brings the balance. As for the 'danger' though, it's their funeral...
 

anthony263

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Seems these brats have decided to do something other than cause problems around Maesteg bus stn anyone who has visited Maesteg bus stn after 18:30 can understand what I am going on about.
 

daikilo

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If you drink enough alcohol or worse a combination of alchol and drugs, you can climb onto the roof of a train, walk across a motorway or try to drive a car without even knowing you are doing it and have absolutely no idea what is in store for you or those who scrape you off the concrete.

The problem is not the train, it is alcohol and drugs. Those who sell them are the killers.
 

Amy Worrall

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I hope she was laughed out of court. If I tried something as stupid as that, my mother would've marched straight down to the station to make me apologise to every staff member and passenger there was. Or at least, something as equally humiliating...like lick a whole 4Cig clean.

My housemate was on a bus last week, when a policeman got on with a youngish kid in tow. Policeman then announced to the bus that this kid had been causing trouble on this bus route (not sure precisely what — some form of antisocial behaviour I guess), and he was about to go round and apologise to every passenger. Kid then does so :)

Apparently the kid's parents had recommended that punishment. It's nice to see an appropriate response, rather than assuming their little angels can do no wrong!
 

GatwickDepress

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My housemate was on a bus last week, when a policeman got on with a youngish kid in tow. Policeman then announced to the bus that this kid had been causing trouble on this bus route (not sure precisely what — some form of antisocial behaviour I guess), and he was about to go round and apologise to every passenger. Kid then does so :)

Apparently the kid's parents had recommended that punishment. It's nice to see an appropriate response, rather than assuming their little angels can do no wrong!
Absolutely brilliant! :D Bet there were a few sniggers from the passengers afterwards. Surprised there aren't more of those sorts of punishments administered, as it would no-doubt have more of an effect on the darlings than say a fine. Props to his parents for recommending it.
 

CNash

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As I recall, this was a problem on the DLR a few years ago, as the B90s were quite climbable. Bit difficult to hold on though, I'd imagine, as the track is (to quote a friend of mine) "like a crap rollercoaster". There are, or were, posters up to discourage train surfing.
 

BestWestern

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If you drink enough alcohol or worse a combination of alchol and drugs, you can climb onto the roof of a train, walk across a motorway or try to drive a car without even knowing you are doing it and have absolutely no idea what is in store for you or those who scrape you off the concrete.

The problem is not the train, it is alcohol and drugs. Those who sell them are the killers.

Those who are stupid enough to take them don't help a great deal either... :|
 

sarahj

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We had one tonight. Someone was spotted on the back of a train leaving Balham. Train stopped, person then jumped down and was last seen running down the slow line. Last I heard police helicopter was out looking. Delays hitting all services between Victoria and East Croydon.
 
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