Rail worker hit by train near Redhill, 24/6/2014

[Skimpot flyer]

I can't believe there has been no thread about the following incident today.

I was on the 1019 Brighton to London Victoria service this morning, which came to an unexpected stop on an embankment on what I believe is termed the 'quarry line', i.e. the part of the Brighton Main Line that avoids Redhill station.

The driver informed us that the train ahead of us had 'struck a person on the track', and shortly afterwards, it became obvious that all power on the third rail had been switched off. We were then delayed over 2 hours ( see http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W60087/2014/06/24/advanced ) while people from adjacent industrial premises gawped upwards at the sound of a helicopter arriving, to take away the victim.

To my surprise, the driver informed us that the person was conscious and being flown to hospital.

A lady opposite me wondered whether the person might have been a 'track worker', because the spot where we came to a stand was high above the local terrain, on a steep embankment, with no obvious access for a person with suicide in mind to get onto the track. A report on this incident http://www.itv.com/news/london/update/2014-06-24/network-rail-worker-hit-by-a-train-in-surrey/? seems to confirm this to be the case.

Would this incident not warrant a major safety investigation ? Aren't there supposed to be a whole string of measures in place, to minimise the possibility of trains running into rail maintenance workers ? Sounds like he was a very lucky man, to escape with his life hock:

 

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Would this incident not warrant a major safety investigation ? Aren't there supposed to be a whole string of measures in place, to minimise the possibility of trains running into rail maintenance workers ? Sounds like he was a very lucky man, to escape with his life hock:

There will be and yes there are. Without any further info which we probably wont get till either someone involved comes on and tells us or further news reports then we just dont know what happened.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Glad to hear the Network Rail worker is alive, and hope he recovers, as does the driver who encountered him.

Kudos to the driver of your train in keeping passengers informed too.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

The driver was very professional, and relayed information as and when he received it. Of course, the air conditioning in our train went off when the juice went off, but I was dismayed by some of the comments people were making on their mobile phones, talking to the office / spouse about why they would be late.

One middle-aged man even joked that perhaps the 'jumper' (an incorrect assumption, as it turned out) had 'maybe just seen the England World Cup highlights, and decided to end it all'

After the helicopter arrived, a police (or BTP?) officer even came round with the offer of free bottled water, from a crate of bottles that someone had sourced from somewhere! As I was in the front coach (of 8, I believe), and already had some water in my rucksack, I let others have the benefit of some refreshment.

(Looking at realtraintimes, for Stoats Nest Junction, it would seem that 1U53 1035 Gatwick Airport to London Victoria was the train which struck the person, as that service was delayed also by two hours)

 

[user15681]

Glad to hear the Network Rail worker is alive, and hope he recovers, as does the driver who encountered him.

Kudos to the driver of your train in keeping passengers informed too.

Couldn't agree more. Hope they both recover.

 

[Bald Rick]

I won't go into any detail, but the guy is ok, albeit with injuries.

RAIB involved and most likely will investigate.

 

[casperwilding]

We were then delayed over 2 hours ( see http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W60087/2014/06/24/advanced ) while people from adjacent industrial premises gawped upwards at the sound of a helicopter arriving, to take away the victim.

I was one of the ladies gawping up from the industrial est. What you fail to realise is that we were the one's who called the ambulance and fire brigade, and we were the ones who chucked them our first aid kit to help stem the blood as he was bleeding quite heavily, also one of our staff was on the phone to the emergency service and also liasing with the Network guys who had the injured colleague. Also while we were gawping at the helicopter we were seeing if he could land on our estate. What I will say is if we were just staring why do you think the Network guys come round to see us afterwards to thank us for all our help

So I would say get your facts right before accusing people. I would just like to say I hope the Network guy makes a speedy and full recovery and thank you for all the emergency services and the Network rail guys who did a fabulous job.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I was one of the ladies gawping up from the industrial est. What you fail to realise is that we were the one's who called the ambulance and fire brigade, and we were the ones who chucked them our first aid kit to help stem the blood as he was bleeding quite heavily, also one of our staff was on the phone to the emergency service and also liasing with the Network guys who had the injured colleague. Also while we were gawping at the helicopter we were seeing if he could land on our estate. What I will say is if we were just staring why do you think the Network guys come round to see us afterwards to thank us for all our help

So I would say get your facts right before accusing people. I would just like to say I hope the Network guy makes a speedy and full recovery and thank you for all the emergency services and the Network rail guys who did a fabulous job.

Well done, good work

Let's hope for a swift recovery.

 

[TDK]

So I would say get your facts right before accusing people. I would just like to say I hope the Network guy makes a speedy and full recovery and thank you for all the emergency services and the Network rail guys who did a fabulous job.

Unfortunately on this forum there are many people who will post what they think happened and not the facts, this happens far too often and is a continuous drone for many of us. Well done with your and your companions for your quick thinking you may have saved the workers life.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I had an incident once where a railworker had come into contact with the conductor rail on the approach to Clapham Junction, I was asked by the signalman to stop at the location, a cutting to pick him and his co-workers up and an ambulance in my train, an 8 car commuter train packed with city gents (so called) and the like. This took a while to do as the man had been strapped to a plank and was very badly injured, we managed to get him into the front vestibule and dropped him off at Clapham Junction where the ambulance men were waiting. Firstly the response from 2 mail obviously well to do pin striped suit nuts approached me and said "If he had done his job properly I would not be late for my meeting" The worker had to have his leg amputated and was 23 years old. This was advertised in the media and also was published in the local paper as a man was struck by a train which in fact was incorrect.

(directed at all members of the forum) With incidents of any kind it is okay to speculate but please if you intend to add what you believe to be fact make sure it is before putting in your so called expert opinions that on many occasions are wrong :roll::roll:

 

[carriageline]

The new Network Rail Cheif Exec has got a right bee in his bonnet (rightly so) about the high numbers of track maintenance deaths/injuries, including contractors. He is making it his mission to stop it, as he rightly says it is not impossible to do. Coming from the oil industry with much better incident rates than ours, with more dangerous environments I can see why. A big thing internally at the minute is a list of "core beliefs" about safety is circulating, which we have to sign next to his signature saying if we can't stick to them, then we are not welcome in NR. I just hope things like that work, there are far too many injuries and fatalities every day, and unfortunately all rail staff have a part to play in reducing it.

The problem is, I suppose when you do the same job every day, it is easy to be lapse with safety (of course, not saying this is the case), and I am sure many rail staff will agree that there is a lot of unsafe systems of work out there (laziness/lack of appropriate knowledge?), and it's not surprising with, for example, the rigramol of taking line blockages that take longer than the job itself. Change needs to be made higher up before the people on the ground can make the change


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[edwin_m]

Would this incident not warrant a major safety investigation ? Aren't there supposed to be a whole string of measures in place, to minimise the possibility of trains running into rail maintenance workers ? Sounds like he was a very lucky man, to escape with his life hock:

The RAIB website includes many such investigations into track worker accidents (fatal or otherwise) and even near-misses that might have been more serious had things been slightly different. There will also be internal company investigations but it is unlikely that these would be made public.

And yes there have been many new rules brought in over the past 20 years or so to reduce the risk to track workers, but it remains a high-risk occupation.

I echo the expressions of sympathy to the victim, the driver and everyone else who may be affected.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Lets hope the Linesman recovers very soon.

 

[Legzr1]

I had an incident once where a railworker had come into contact with the conductor rail on the approach to Clapham Junction, I was asked by the signalman to stop at the location, a cutting to pick him and his co-workers up and an ambulance in my train, an 8 car commuter train packed with city gents (so called) and the like. This took a while to do as the man had been strapped to a plank and was very badly injured, we managed to get him into the front vestibule and dropped him off at Clapham Junction where the ambulance men were waiting. Firstly the response from 2 mail obviously well to do pin striped suit nuts approached me and said "If he had done his job properly I would not be late for my meeting" The worker had to have his leg amputated and was 23 years old. This was advertised in the media and also was published in the local paper as a man was struck by a train which in fact was incorrect.

:

That simple paragraph shows what our 'society' has come to.

Personally, I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut (and have had to explain myself on occasion to superiors when faced with similar situations - a death on the line delays a train and all people were worried about was being late for a meal/a few pints/hairdressers appointment.

All I said was "that's your husband or son out there. Still feel the same"? )

When did empathy become such a dirty word?

 

[Dieseldriver]

With you 100% mate. I find the attitudes of people when it comes to incidents such as these on the railway (as well as fatal road collisions) absolutely disgusting. Unless one of their loved ones is involved in such a terrible incident they will never realise just how despicable they are.

 

[theageofthetra]

As someone who has just sat his PTS it is tragic incidents like this which really put your training in perspective. Hope the lad recovers & thoughts with his family.

 

[Zoidberg]

...

Would this incident not warrant a major safety investigation ?

...

There will be ...

The RAIB has announced that it is investogating.

From http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/140624_redhill.cfm

RAIB is investigating an accident to a track worker who was supervising a gang carrying out track maintenance work near Redhill in Surrey. The accident occurred at about 10:40 hrs on 24 June 2014. The track worker was struck by a passenger train and suffered serious injuries.

The injured person was with a gang of eleven people engaged in undertaking repairs to the Up Quarry line between Redhill Tunnel and Quarry Tunnel. The train, a passenger service from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria, was travelling at about 80 mph (129 km/h).

...