Train to train "evacuation" yesterday outside Coventry.

[mlb377]

Am surprised there is no thread for the disruption that occurred between Rugby and Birmingham during yesterday afternoon, however I was on the broken down train (14.13 EUS to COV) just a little away from Coventry. What I thought was interesting was that we were evacuated directly onto a separate train heading South back towards Rugby, via a wheelchair ramp which was being held in place by BTP officers on each train who eachhad a foot on the ramp, and an engineer (I think) who was trackside and holding the ramp.

Whilst I've heard of trackside evacuations, I wondered how common train to train evacuations are?

 

[Christmas]

This is certainly the most efficient way to do it but sadly the more acceptable method is now to evacuate down a ladder on to ballast and back up a ladder to the assisting train. Pathetic but this is to mitigate against someone taking a dive whilst traversing the 5ft of the ramp.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP.

 

[westcoaster]

Am surprised there is no thread for the disruption that occurred between Rugby and Birmingham during yesterday afternoon, however I was on the broken down train (14.13 EUS to COV) just a little away from Coventry. What I thought was interesting was that we were evacuated directly onto a separate train heading South back towards Rugby, via a wheelchair ramp which was being held in place by BTP officers on each train who eachhad a foot on the ramp, and an engineer (I think) who was trackside and holding the ramp.

Whilst I've heard of trackside evacuations, I wondered how common train to train evacuations are?

They are called trans-boardment ramps.

 

[swt_passenger]

There’s a picture of one here, from a thread early last month.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...vacuate-wheelchair-users.170570/#post-3664896
I don’t think post #2 is necessarily up to date, there have been a number of reports of them being used.

 

[tsr]

This is certainly the most efficient way to do it but sadly the more acceptable method is now to evacuate down a ladder on to ballast and back up a ladder to the assisting train. Pathetic but this is to mitigate against someone taking a dive whilst traversing the 5ft of the ramp.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP.

Absolutely not true as a blanket rule. Ramps between trains are not always suitable, but are generally far safer, provided the trains are not too far apart and enough staff are around to supervise it. Ladders are unfamiliar to a surprising number of people and particularly tricky for those with inappropriate footwear, luggage, alcohol in their system, disabilities etc. Ramps typically deal with all those issues quite well.

If anything, I would say train-to-train ramp evacuation is becoming much more common as a primary option, and evacuation to ballast (then either to a train, station or access point) is becoming rarer.

 

[Christmas]

There’s a picture of one here, from a thread early last month.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...vacuate-wheelchair-users.170570/#post-3664896
I don’t think post #2 is necessarily up to date, there have been a number of reports of them being used.

Using ramps within ScotRail at least is totally forbidden now and traincrew are regularly reminded of this at briefings.

 

[LOL The Irony]

This is certainly the most efficient way to do it but sadly the more acceptable method is now to evacuate down a ladder on to ballast and back up a ladder to the assisting train. Pathetic but this is to mitigate against someone taking a dive whilst traversing the 5ft of the ramp.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP.

There’s a picture of one here, from a thread early last month.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...vacuate-wheelchair-users.170570/#post-3664896
I don’t think post #2 is necessarily up to date, there have been a number of reports of them being used.

Looking at one, to fall off, you'd have to intentionally do it or be really tall and in an unfit state to walk.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Using ramps within ScotRail at least is totally forbidden now and traincrew are regularly reminded of this at briefings.

Is this referring to specific devices designed for the job, with side rails to prevent people falling off, or a ban on using the wheelchair ramp as a makeshift plank between the two trains, which would seem sensible.

 

[father_jack]

Whilst I've heard of trackside evacuations, I wondered how common train to train evacuations are?

There was one today at Bristol west gantry, a 150/2 (thankfully not a 150/0 or150/1) broke down while working 2M08 0840 Weston Super Mare to Bristol TM http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V48081/2018/11/03/advanced, the 1022 Bristol TM-Portsmouth formed by a 158/9 was scrambled to "couple" up so the passengers who were locked on for about an hour and a 1/4 could walk through and be moved into the station.

 

[Supercoss]

As wheelchair access ramps are far more available ‘ in the field’ if you know what you are doing, if you know what emergency equipment is on each stock, the working at height falling from height risk can be reduced. Door barrier guards deployed across gap rather than across door.
All class 700 & 717 stock carry onboard ramps and a small ladder
Align the rescue train up correctly, give local door release then good to go.....

 

[philthetube]

It is not alwayd possible to do depending on location, the biggest issues are size of gap and height, curved and banked tracks can cause issues.

 

[whhistle]

I appreciate the large yellow "banner" suggesting "No Exit".
Seriously; Who of any sort of sane mind, would really think that is the way to "exit"?

 

[noddingdonkey]

I got the impression that was normally used where doors were opened to provide ventilation on a failed train awaiting rescue?

 

[LAX54]

and of course in an electric area, depending th circumstances, you still need power for the train to draw alongside.

 

[MDB1images]

Using ramps within ScotRail at least is totally forbidden now and traincrew are regularly reminded of this at briefings.

I think it will vary from TOC to TOC as some have specialist ramps that have a 'handrail' for people to hold on as they cross over and can be secured on each train (think Virgin West Coast use these), will depend on what equipment each TOC has onboard and what it's staff are trained on.

TPE had to do a full evacuation near Gretna Monday evening (WCML was shut due to the incident)which was ladder to ballast and executed successfully.
I think so long as the Conductor/Train Manager organises and briefs customers before they evacuate and it's carried out correctly both methods are fine and have merits and faults.

 

[Supercoss]

Friday deep inside Camden Road Tunnel
https://twitter.com/WaldoWhereToday/status/1088896088784945152?s=20
Controlled evacuation of stalled class 700

 

[LCC106]

At least 1 evacuation down a ladder from a cab on Merseyrail a few days ago due to build up of ice on 3rd rail.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I got the impression that was normally used where doors were opened to provide ventilation on a failed train awaiting rescue?

Yes, correct.

 

[KingJ]

YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP.

Will all due respect, I think you have just demonstrated that it is possible to make it up! There will still be situations where a train to track evacuation is the best solution as mentioned by others on the thread.

At least 1 evacuation down a ladder from a cab on Merseyrail a few days ago due to build up of ice on 3rd rail.

Looking at the pictures on this news article about the event*, there was no other train for passengers to evacuate on to and they were walked down the track to Ainsdale station. It likely wouldn't have been practical to draw alongside another train even if one was available, as it would be at risk of stranding due to the same ice build up issues.

*pictures show a single Merseyrail class 507 unit on a section of dual track, with a ladder attached to the cab door. Passengers are being walked in single file down the cess. No other trains are visible.

 

[TurbostarFan]

This is certainly the most efficient way to do it but sadly the more acceptable method is now to evacuate down a ladder on to ballast and back up a ladder to the assisting train. Pathetic but this is to mitigate against someone taking a dive whilst traversing the 5ft of the ramp.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT UP.

I agree but wouldn't this make sense on a third rail electrified railway?