Incident at Manchester Piccadilly 01/12/17

[Mathew S]

Hearing sad news that a person has lost their life due to electrocution at Man Piccadilly tonight. Platforms closed off, trains cancelled.

There are reports that a person climbed on top of a VTWC Pendolino.

Thoughts with all involved who have, by the sounds of it, witnessed something horrific; and, of course, with the deceased, friends & family.

Not able to post a link/quote from my phone, but details are on the Manchester Evening News website.

 

[weastebusdepot]

Details here...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...nchester-piccadilly-trains-cancelled-13984709

A person has died at Manchester Piccadilly station after climbing onto the top of a train and being electrocuted. Horrified passengers have spoken of witnessing the tragedy which happened at 10.50pm on Friday night.

Services to and from the station were cancelled as power to the lines was turned off...

 

[Mathew S]

Details here...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...nchester-piccadilly-trains-cancelled-13984709

Thanks. Don't know why the site won't let me copy and paste on my phone.

 

[FManc]

Definetly a horrible situation! Thoughts to all involved.

There was lots of presence in the station tonight. You could see a massive scorch mark on the bridge (that cross the main platforms at Picc) right above two VTWC Pendos.

 

[Mathew S]

Definetly a horrible situation! Thoughts to all involved.

There was lots of presence in the station tonight. You could see a massive scorch mark on the bridge (that cross the main platforms at Picc) right above two VTWC Pendos.

Some of the more detailed descriptions of the incident (from passengers etc.) frankly don't bear repeating.
Horrifying.

 

[Confused147]

Why climb up on a train though?? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[the sniper]

Why climb up on a train though?? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Do you know it wasn't suicide? You do see drunks doing the stupidest of things everyday on the railway at this time of year, so it wouldn't surprise me, but I wouldn't jump to that conclusion.

 

[palmersears]

Did the deceased climb up the 390? If so I can't imagine that's a particularly easy thing to do A) quickly and B) without somebody intervening.

Also, how quickly can the OHLE juice be shut off? I assume it's not simply a case of pressing a big red button and it ceasing straight away?

 

[weastebusdepot]

Also, how quickly can the OHLE juice be shut off? I assume it's not simply a case of pressing a big red button and it ceasing straight away?

It would be a case of an emergency phone call to the Electrical Control Officer (probably in Crewe?) stating the exact location that needed to be isolated.

 

[Moonshot]

It would be a case of an emergency phone call to the Electrical Control Officer (probably in Crewe?) stating the exact location that needed to be isolated.

indeed it would, and its somethin we train crew are well aware of, but of course you would have to see this happening first. It probably took a matter of seconds for this incident to happen , probably way too quick for anyone to react. Very sad incident

 

[Dieseldriver]

Unfortunately the process of obtaining an Emergency Switch Off takes time and in all honesty, once someone is in contact with the wires/live rail, there's not much chance of the Switch Off making a difference.
Whatever theiron reasons for being up there, my thoughts are with the victim, their family and anyone else involved

 

[Ash Bridge]

Did the deceased climb up the 390? If so I can't imagine that's a particularly easy thing to do A) quickly and B) without somebody intervening.

As you say it can't be easy, but looking at the (three?) sets of jumper cables between the car ends one above the other, I wonder if the person took this route to get up onto the roof? My thoughts go to all having to deal with the aftermath, and of course to anyone witnessing this horrific event.

 

[skyhigh]

Unfortunately the process of obtaining an Emergency Switch Off takes time and in all honesty, once someone is in contact with the wires/live rail, there's not much chance of the Switch Off making a difference.
Whatever theiron reasons for being up there, my thoughts are with the victim, their family and anyone else involved

Also bearing in mind residual current that can remain in a section (although I suspect this is unlikely with electric trains there)

 

[Mathew S]

As you say it can't be easy, but looking at the (three?) sets of jumper cables between the car ends one above the other, I wonder if the person took this route to get up onto the roof? My thoughts go to all having to deal with the aftermath, and of course to anyone witnessing this horrific event.

I wonder, perhaps, if the person came down onto the train from the footbridge rather than up. You could easily enough climb over the parapet if you really wanted to, and the bridge is usually deserted, so nobody to stop it happening.

 

[palmersears]

I wonder, perhaps, if the person came down onto the train from the footbridge rather than up. You could easily enough climb over the parapet if you really wanted to, and the bridge is usually deserted, so nobody to stop it happening.

I must say that was my first thought when I heard the sad news. The bridge is probably the quietest part of the station so somebody with intentions to climb over could do so fairly inconspicuously.

 

[MG11]

What caused the scorch mark? Did the electricity jump upwards as it made contact with the person?

 

[MG11]

Was the Pendolino held for long? I can't imagine there would have been a lengthy investigation given the circumstances. Would the passengers have been locked on the train to prevent distress?

 

[Andyh82]

Is there really a 'scorch mark' rather than the black soot that is above all the tracks on the bridges caused by DMUs passing under multiple times per day?

I doubt the Pendolino was going anywhere, and I doubt it had anyone on considering the time. Of course there would still have been an investigation of many hours being undertaken by all relevant parties.

 

[MG11]

Is there really a 'scorch mark' rather than the black soot that is above all the tracks on the bridges caused by DMUs passing under multiple times per day?

I doubt the Pendolino was going anywhere, and I doubt it had anyone on considering the time. Of course there would still have been an investigation of many hours being undertaken by all relevant parties.

What you're saying would make sense but I believe Virgin almost exclusively use the same platforms at MAN, the only DMUs really operate from platform 1 & 2 and the southern most platforms.

 

[Confused147]

Is there really a 'scorch mark' rather than the black soot that is above all the tracks on the bridges caused by DMUs passing under multiple times per day?

Is this the scorch mark in question ?? None of the other platforms show black soot on the bridge.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That looks more like it’s come from a locomotive at some point.

 

[DarloRich]

What caused the scorch mark? Did the electricity jump upwards as it made contact with the person?

Was the Pendolino held for long? I can't imagine there would have been a lengthy investigation given the circumstances. Would the passengers have been locked on the train to prevent distress?

Really? This must be the posting of a child. Yeah - someone is killed, just roll them out of the way and send the train on it's way. goodness me.

 

[Trainfan344]

What you're saying would make sense but I believe Virgin almost exclusively use the same platforms at MAN, the only DMUs really operate from platform 1 & 2 and the southern most platforms.

Since when did Cross Country start operating electric units?

 

[DanTrain]

Since when did Cross Country start operating electric units?

Since the revelation that TPE's 185s are secretly electric!