Question. Incident near Slaithwaite, a few months ago.

[185]

This is what I do know.

Heard a rumour that there was a bungled incident near Slaithwaite (or further up the hill) recently. A two unit (2x3car) express train had an automatic brake application and it could only release brakes once the portions were detached, suggesting the fault was in the couplers.

As the train in question was a non-gangway door type, and it was not a bona-fide emergency, there was no real option to move passengers down onto the track and into the front portion.

The train company's Control Manager informed the driver and guard to both get in the front set, drive off and abandon the rear set, which was still full of 100 passengers, saying that it was 1) Protected by signals and 2) Additional guard and driver were en-route and 40 mins away.

The company didn't bank on there being a senior Network Rail boss left on that unit, who since reported it. I hear this Control Manager who made the decision no longer works there, and the fact Control Managers were on a Punctuality-for-bonuses scheme will be called into question - did he risk safety for a punctuality bonus?

Heard this secondhand from two people now, but anyone know any more about this or any rough dates? Ta.

 

[142094]

Interesting. Quite a stupid thing to do.

 

[GB]

Quite stupid indeed. I'm suprised the driver and guard went along with the idea.

 

[PinzaC55]

I don't believe this. The H&SE would take them to the cleaners.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Big contrast to another similar incident I was involved with where not only where the trains gangwayed but were at a station at the time (not long enough for the entire train, but long enough to open a few local doors, which was done to allow the passengers out to streach their legs). It took nearly 2 hours for control to make the desision to abandon the rear unit and take the passengers forward in the front unit. Then again in another incident control again took nearly 2 hours to decide to shut a failed unit to some sidings just up the line, having offloaded the passengers, to allow passengers to board the following train (which by this time was itself an hour late and closely followed by the next train).