Person hit by Eurostar

[LucaZone]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6991948.stm

"The 1459 travelling from Brussels to London Waterloo hit someone who was on the track between Lille and Calais."

 

[VTDan]

What a silly person! I dont understand why people feel the need to put themselves on the railway line! Very selfish aswell, if they're trying to commit suicide, the driver involved wouldn't be able to live with himself. Well I wouldn't. Don't know about anyone else...

 

[voyagerdude220]

What a silly person! I dont understand why people feel the need to put themselves on the railway line! Very selfish aswell, if they're trying to commit suicide, the driver involved wouldn't be able to live with himself. Well I wouldn't. Don't know about anyone else...

I ditto that completely, even though i've never been a driver (so far )

I'd love to get behind the controls of a Voyager (even if it was along the ECML instead of routes i'm familiar with along the WCML)..

Does several hours experience on BVE4, and the fact i've done doors on a Voyager before count towards anything?

 

[VTDan]

haha you wish! Afraid not matey!

Yeah if you like that sort of thing go for it, good benefits and money. However one piece of advice..I give everyone!! DO NOT plan your whole life (literally everything) around becoming a train driver as the jobs are so rare these days it's unbelievable.

Then, Work hard, Play 'hard' out in the city with the girls/guys whoever takes your fancy !

 

[voyagerdude220]

haha you wish! Afraid not matey!

Yeah if you like that sort of thing go for it, good benefits and money. However one piece of advice..I give everyone!! DO NOT plan your whole life (literally everything) around becoming a train driver as the jobs are so rare these days it's unbelievable.

Then, Work hard, Play 'hard' out in the city with the girls/guys whoever takes your fancy !

Thanks for the very sound advice, VTDan.

I know just how hard it is to get into certain industries/companies etc, so I'll try my best not to get my hopes up to much.

After all.. by the time I job comes up, it could be time for VT to get XC back from Arriva, after they mess it up :rasp:

(And before someone has a go at me for critising Arriva, even before they take over XC, I was joking)

 

[VTDan]

I agree about Arriva they can't even run a F*cking bus company! Let alone a train company!

I am intrigued to see what they make of the future though....

Neh bother about the advice mate, Good Luck with whatever you choose.

 

[me123]

I hope he doesn't die, even though he was rather stipod in the first place. I do wish, though, that people would realise the danger of being on a railway track at any time.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Good Luck with whatever you choose.

Thanks!

 

[kestrel]

I hope he doesn't die, even though he was rather stipod in the first place. I do wish, though, that people would realise the danger of being on a railway track at any time.

Train doing 186mph i think its quite likely he/she is not around to tell the tale:roll:

 

[me123]

Train doing 186mph i think its quite likely he/she is not around to tell the tale:roll:

I believe in miracles and, whilst some may say I'm naïve, some people have survived some unbelievable accidents such as this. The odds are, of course, very much against this but you never know...

 

[eifion]

I believe in miracles and, whilst some may say I'm naïve, some people have survived some unbelievable accidents such as this. The odds are, of course, very much against this but you never know...

...work it out.
Human Body: Flesh and Bone.
Weight: 10 - 15 Stone - average!
Speed: 0 M.P.H

Class 373: Steel.
Weight: 815 tonne.
Speed: 186 M.P.H.

I think the outcome is in favour of the Loco.

 

[Mr B J mann]

What a silly person! I dont understand why people feel the need to put themselves on the railway line! Very selfish aswell, if they're trying to commit suicide, the driver involved wouldn't be able to live with himself. Well I wouldn't. Don't know about anyone else...

Why is it that with any other form of transport the person in charge is expected to take avoiding action even to avoid someone acting suicidally but with rail it's always the third party's unique responsibility?

Why, if there is a danger of a pedestrian getting onto the track, does the driver not have to drive at a speed from which he can stop in the distance he can see to be clear?

 

[CosherB]

Why is it that with any other form of transport the person in charge is expected to take avoiding action even to avoid someone acting suicidally but with rail it's always the third party's unique responsibility?

Why, if there is a danger of a pedestrian getting onto the track, does the driver not have to drive at a speed from which he can stop in the distance he can see to be clear?

Are you being serious? Bring back the man with the red flag?

Suicides often remain hidden untill just before the train reaches them, then they run out in front of it. There is nothing the driver can do, and there is no way any blame should attach to him / her. I can understand drivers being traumatised by the awful violence of their train smashing someone to bits like that, but I don't understand why they might not be able to live with themselves - there was nothing they could have done to prevent it.

 

[Tom]

One more ever so slight point - railways can't change their direction of travel at the last moment.

 

[Mr B J mann]

One more ever so slight point - railways can't change their direction of travel at the last moment.

Surely all the more reason to:

drive at a speed from which he can stop in the distance he can see to be clear?

 

[matt]

Surely all the more reason to:

So you would be happy travelling on a train that goes under 30mph?

 

[Tom]

Hence slowing down the service for the nitwits who decide to muck around on the line?

There are some quite severe curves that can be taken at 70mph - this is not a road. This is a live railway (sometimes electrified up to 25kV) - it's not to be messed with.

 

[Mr B J mann]

Are you being serious? Bring back the man with the red flag?

Suicides often remain hidden untill just before the train reaches them, then they run out in front of it. There is nothing the driver can do, and there is no way any blame should attach to him / her.

There has been at least one case of a driver in the otside lane getting prosecuted for failing to avoid someone appearing from right in front of a car driving in the inside lane (not sure of the outcome) and of someone (admittedly over the drink drive limit, but that should not have been a factor in prosecution for the death) being jailed for failing to avoid somone who ran right under their wheels

I can understand drivers being traumatised by the awful violence of their train smashing someone to bits like that, but I don't understand why they might not be able to live with themselves - there was nothing they could have done to prevent it.

Similarly someone jumping off the far side of a motorway bridge under the wheels of a passing car. But the driver would still be investigated with the intention of prosecution.

Again using a road analogy, if you were doing 70 on a motorway and you saw a broken down coach ahead with a lot of passengers, including children, milling about on the hard shoulder, you would be expected to slow down to a safe speed for the conditions. Ditto if you saw a motorway sign warning you of danger.

So why, if you are driving along a rail road, approaching a known area for child trespassers, suicides, or a station that you know will have a busy platform milling with passengers and children, one of whom might fall, be pushed, climb down to retrieve a dropped possession, jump on to the track, or try to cross to the other side (eg to catch a Christmas shopping train) why can you screeam past doing the ton?

 

[Tom]

So why, if you are driving along a rail road, approaching a known area for child trespassers, suicides, or a station that you know will have a busy platform milling with passengers and children, one of whom might fall, be pushed, climb down to retrieve a dropped possession, jump on to the track, or try to cross to the other side (eg to catch a Christmas shopping train) why can you screeam past doing the ton?

Are you totally ignorant? They should NOT BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. The railway is NOT PUBLIC PROPERTY. No-one knows where there is going to be someone. I've witnessed THREE successful suicide attempts, all three at different locations and all of them were 'firsts', and all of them were at line speed, 100mph. All three were at stations and only at the last minute did they jump down onto the track. Are you honestly saying that drivers should SLOW down just because "omg omg omg peoplez on platform omg best slow down!"?

:roll:

 

[Mr B J mann]

So you would be happy travelling on a train that goes under 30mph?

Probably not.

But, then again, I'm expected to be happy travelling at under 30 on roads perfectly "safe" for 30, 40, or even more.

Just to be on the safe side.

After all, "if it saves just one life"!


So my happiness, or otherwise, at travelling at under 30, is irrelevant, isn't it?

 

[Mintona]

Probably not.

But, then again, I'm expected to be happy travelling at under 30 on roads perfectly "safe" for 30, 40, or even more.

Just to be on the safe side.

After all, "if it saves just one life"!


So my happiness, or otherwise, at travelling at under 30, is irrelevant, isn't it?

Roads are more dangerous than railways, just look at the statistics on numbers of deaths per year and I think you'll find I'm right. Therefore, it makes sense to go slower on roads through villages.

 

[VTDan]

If they're on the line, in my opinion: serves em right if they die. Yes, the poor driver but the person who was on the line will never do it again and nor will their friends/mates or whoever watched.

What is so hard to understand DO NOT TRESPASS ON THE RAILWAY. It's English, bold text....not difficult atall for anyone to understand. So 'MR B J mann' what goes on inside your head!

 

[kestrel]

Probably not.

But, then again, I'm expected to be happy travelling at under 30 on roads perfectly "safe" for 30, 40, or even more.

Just to be on the safe side.

After all, "if it saves just one life"!


So my happiness, or otherwise, at travelling at under 30, is irrelevant, isn't it?

As a driver on one of the worst bits of line with 'suicides' and havin many 'nr misses' i think you are talking total bollocks!!!!!!!! Mr Mann, you'll be saying we hav steering wheels next and can steer round them!!!!!!!

 

[66526]

I think Mr BJ Mann is trying to wind people up.

 

[VTDan]

Or his head is ****ed up...?

 

[Mr B J mann]

Hence slowing down the service for the nitwits who decide to muck around on the line?

What about slowing down the road transport service for nitwits who decide to muck around on Pelican Crossings, say?

Pushing the button when they've got no intention of crossing?

Pushing the button and rushing across in front of a road vehicle which is then forced to slow down and then stop as the lights change after the nitwit has crossed and sit waiting at an empty crossing wasting time and fuel?


Or running across in front of traffic with the right of way at traffic lights who then have to stop as they change to red?

Or dawdling across Zebra Crossings?

Or just generally jaywalking?

Or playing chicken!



What about reducing greens at traffic lights and lengthening reds?

Just in case fifty pedestrians decide to cross at the same time!



Or reds on Pelican Crossings so long a blind man in a zimmer frame could cross, do their shopping, and cross back before the lights changed to amber.

And then the amber's steady, not flashing!


So that argument doesn't hold water either, does it!

There are some quite severe curves that can be taken at 70mph - this is not a road. This is a live railway (sometimes electrified up to 25kV) - it's not to be messed with.

There are some quite severe curves on the M62 (built to a much reduced spec compared to the rest of the motorway "network") that can be taken at well over 70mph.

So why are you limited to 70 on the full spec motorways, never mind the M62!


Sorry, still don't see why rail is the only mode of transport allowed to ignore hazards ahead.

 

[Donny Dave]

Mr mann.

Before you start spouting off about safety, I suggest you find some statistics to back your arguments up. Failing that, keep looking at news sites (BBC for instance) to look for stories about accidents. Every day, there is countless stories about Road Traffic accidents, but very few about railways.

In your opinion, what could have been done to prevent todays bad accident on the M4, where a car went the wrong way down the motorway and hit another head on?

 

[Daniel]

Sorry, still don't see why rail is the only mode of transport allowed to ignore hazards ahead.

Don't quite understand that.

Train ahead - train slows down, (signals).

Foot crossing ahead, horn sounded - "Get out of my way, im a traaaaiiiiinnnn!!"

Level crossing ahead - barriers ahead, unless you swerve 'em then nothing can go wrong, as before a train can be routed over the siggy has to check the CCTV and make sure its clear.

Stations with people on - yellow line... stay behind it, then it should be fine.

Basically, any "hazard" in an "operational" railway, (I.E. one with no faults with the track, signals, trains etc), don't exist unless a pedestrian or a car causes said hazard.


So no, don't quite get what your saying, seems completley weird to me!

 

[VTDan]

Well if I see kids or anyone messing around on the road, if anything I speed up. I will never ever stand down to kids who think the law should be changed for them.
They end up in hospital or in a morgue....Serves them right.

Better there than doing it again and again, terrorising any kind of driver.

 

[Mojo]

Sorry, still don't see why rail is the only mode of transport allowed to ignore hazards ahead.

Because car drivers don't have to go through an intensive training programme, learn how to drive every type of car they will ever drive, have to pass extremely strict medical tests, have to learn the features of each road they will ever drive on.

Roads also don't have the knowledge built up over the best part of two hundred years of signalling and guideway (the track) technology to keep vehicles apart.