Great Western Coffee Shop

OK here's a question for all you Elf & Safety people, being that Elf & Safety is ABOVE all other things, how long does it take to repair a FENCE.

The reason I ask is today I've made one of my infrequent visits to the end of the line at Penzance, if I make PZ twice a year I'm Lucky or unlucky depending on your thoughts on the place.
 
Was an Early start and for the First Time in Years I travelled in the "Day" cars of the Sleeper Train, very nice too all first class seats.

However on Station Road I've become aware that part of the Station Railings have been  badly damaged for at least 18 months.

So my elf & Safety friends what's your excuse!

CUE: Deathly Silence:

Whats it got to do with health and safety?  If it is dangerous then it should be repaired straight away.  If a temporary repair has been made then it has to wait for the person responsible to properly fix it.

You are talking First Great Western Here, it WILL never get repaired!!!

AFAIR The Railings were damaged over Two years ago by a Car, Simple enough get Car Insurance to pay SO why the Delay?

For some unknown reason FGW think Penzance Station is in Wharf Road when it's actually on Station Road!

But there again if FGW DON'T know where there station is  ;D

ps Visit the FGW web site Destination Guide click on Penzance and the nice photo of Penzance is back to front.  ;)

Is it the tenants responsibility or the landlords ie FGW or NR's

Can't say I'm sure, but as it's Accident Damage I believe it's in the Same classifaction as Vandalism which Means it's up to FGW to Sort out.

Even if it's NR to fix it's taken so long I can't see the costs being recovered from Car Insurers!

Given the current financial climate and uncertain future, if it is not causing a health & safety hazard, do you really think fixing a fence is anywhere on FGW or NRs radar?  How do we know the car that hit it has insurance?  Plenty of people don't !

I believe the car didn't have insurance from what I remember, I think there are far more pressing issues at the moment!

The trouble is that in this day and age there is no such thing as an accident or behaving responsibly, everything comes under H & S and is therefore someone else's fault/responsibility !

I lived in Scotland back in the seventies and had a great view of the West Highland line watching (loco hauled) trains labouring up the gradient from Craigendoran to Helensburgh Upper.
One section of this track was constantly under "attack" from vandals who constantly destroyed the wooden trackside fence. BR kept repairing/replacing it but it was not long before it was attacked again, mainly by youngsters.
One day a Glasgow bound train, as usual, freewheeled down the steep slope from Helensburgh Upper. It was almost silent, the train hit and killed two youngsters on the line.
There was a considerable outcry at the time but it was mainly of the "what do you expect" variety. There was no big "blame" witch hunt and no legal actions.

BUT, the remarkable thing was, when the fence was repaired after this accident, there was no more vandalism ! A terrible way for the local youngsters and their parents to learn a lesson.

I seem to remember a similar incident near Dovey junction in the mid 1990's where some kids were playing on the line and got hit by a train, the parents tried to have Railtrack done but in the end the parents got done for neglect or something? anyone remember?

Not quite as long ago as the mid 1990's, vacman, but is this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1452653.stm) the very tragic incident you're thinking of?

Chris :(

Just an Up date, it's 8 weeks (tomorrow) since I started this topic and still it's not repaired.

Wonder just how long it will take for FGW to take note, so we can see a result.

The story from Scotland, whilst really tragic, makes a good point. No more said.

Just an update, now I'm back in the west, this fence still isn't repaired, in fact there's a scaffold been built right through the damaged section.

So how long does it take to repair a fence? ;D

Now folks, grip hold off something solid, said fence has Been repaired.

So it's taken about 3 years to repair a fence.

OH well done FGW a round of appaulse please.


And what's it got to do with Elf & Safety, well whilst the fence is road side there is a 12 foot drop the other side.