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All across the Great Western territory => The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom => Topic started by: bobm on June 06, 2011, 19:57:43



Title: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: bobm on June 06, 2011, 19:57:43
From the  BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13664371)

Quote
Epsom Derby racegoer injured as train is stopped

The train was packed full of racegoers from Derby Day at Epsom
A woman was badly burned as she stepped on to the line when a train packed full of Epsom Derby racegoers was stopped and the doors forced open.

The emergency cord was pulled on the Victoria-bound service near South Croydon station, south London, when a fight broke out on Saturday night.

Police said the woman, 22, who was in a separate carriage, then climbed out the doors and on to the line.

She remains in hospital. Her condition is not thought to be life threatening.

British Transport Police (BTP) were called at 2044 BST to reports of a fight between a group of men on the 1950 BST service from Tattenham Corner station near the racecourse in Epsom, Surrey.

'Stark reminder'
The emergency cord was pulled by a passenger as the train approached South Croydon station.

Police said a set of doors were forced open and the woman, from Mitcham, south London, stepped down on to the line.

She suffered burns after touching the live third rail and was taken to hospital.

A BTP spokeswoman said the "separate" incidents were being investigated and there had been no arrests.

Insp Jack Ioannou, from Croydon BTP station, said: "This incident serves as a stark reminder that members of the public should never attempt to go on or near the tracks unless directed to by a member of rail staff or a police officer.

"The live third rail powers trains across south London, carries 750 volts of electricity and remains switched on 24 hours a day, seven days a week."


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: JayMac on June 06, 2011, 20:20:14
A very silly decision made by the woman.

Darwin Award Honourable Mention.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on June 06, 2011, 20:26:35
very lucky to be alive


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: bobm on June 06, 2011, 20:38:34
Also ignites the argument about whether the communication cord should automatically apply the brakes or allow the driver to chose where he stops. I understand it varies between types of train. In this case if he'd been able to continue to South Croydon she'd have got out on a platform (unless of course the doors were forced on the wrong side).


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Ollie on June 06, 2011, 23:41:31
Considering she was in a seperate carriage to the fight I don't see why she forced her way out the train anyway..


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: ChrisB on June 07, 2011, 05:24:15
Inpatience, probably


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Phil on June 07, 2011, 07:32:02
It only says she was taken to hospital, Chris.

Not whether she was an out-patient or an im-patient.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Brucey on June 07, 2011, 08:16:22
It does amaze me how few people realise how the electricity gets to the train.  Just ask a normal passenger in the third rail region and you'll more than likely get a "dunno" response.

And is a fight really worthy of pulling the emergency cord?  Surely the safest option is to either call the police yourself to the next station stop if nearby or seek out a member of train crew.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: ChrisB on June 07, 2011, 09:45:16
On a packed train, just getting anywhere on a train is just about impossible - ask those travelling twixt Slough & PAD in the peak......
I've seen fights get extremely vicious - buty yes, in such cases, definitely pulling it whiole at a platform is far better.
This wasn't a Epsom fast to Waterloo was it? I know they don't normally run that way, but I guess it might have ben laid on after The DErby to get folks back to London? If so, I guess it probably couldn't wait that long....


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Not from Brighton on June 08, 2011, 00:02:57
When I were a lad, they taught us about the third rail at school. Do they still do this?


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Phil on June 08, 2011, 09:07:47
When I were a lad, they taught us about the third rail at school. Do they still do this?

Only if there's a box to tick on the National Curriculum on the subject. To be fair, I think it probably depended even back then on what part of the country you lived in.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Brucey on June 08, 2011, 09:26:07
I went to primary school in Fratton (so in the heart of third rail land) but certainly didn't get any mention of third rails.  Even though we had several school trips by train (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_421), the only safety information was a straight "don't go on the tracks".

But then I didn't get any "don't play with matches" education that my parents received.

It seemed they were more interested in educating us on alcohol and drugs.  I vividly remember being shown a liver that had been soaked in alcohol overnight :-\


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: bobm on June 08, 2011, 09:34:36
The only time I remember being told about the danger of railways at school was after a group of classmates had been caught putting old pennies on the line.

I don't recall any other lessons. Somehow you knew instinctively it was a dangerous place. Bit like the open coal fire at home. You just knew it wouldn't be a bright idea to put your hand too close.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: eightf48544 on June 08, 2011, 09:43:14
Working on the Southern the first thing you are taught is not to step on any rail. I still don't to this day even on the steam worked narrow gauge in Germany. Also tha if you wearing long uniform Mac to lift it up to allow to step over both rails. having said that I watched a LUL track worker step on the conductor rail outside Ealing Broadway as I passed last week.

When were out on other regions you could tell the Southern guys. Stepping over rails.

Although as a kid I used to balnace on the rails by Southampton Docks on our Sunday afternoon walk.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Tim on June 08, 2011, 09:47:54
We were show this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_(public_information_film) at primary school (version 2 which was appropriate to where I lived).  I also remember a train driver talking to us in assembly about playing on the line and how he really didn't want to run over us.

Up until then I hadn't even considered that playing on the railway line was even a possibility. 


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: bobm on June 08, 2011, 09:59:39
Up until then I hadn't even considered that playing on the railway line was even a possibility. 

I agree. Sometimes I think these things backfire. However you can't win - if you do nothing it's wrong. The TV phrase "Kids, don't try this at home..." is just asking for it sometimes.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: ChrisB on June 08, 2011, 10:02:42
THere's an ex-driver at Chiltern that tours schools up & down the Chiltern Line....


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on July 08, 2011, 13:38:16
first of all a warning ..... do not click this link if you are of a nervous disposition, while it is not explicit or overly gory it does demonstrate why you shouldnt play with electric on the railways ...... showing a toned down version of this would stop people going on the line !


the following video shows a person being electrocuted by an overhead cable..... again... do not click if you dont have a strong stomac



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A6A136FwLI


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: thetrout on July 08, 2011, 17:55:01
Don't let anyone under the age of 18 watch that! It WILL give them nightmares... :-X :(

That being said, a note to the mods... Perhaps move relex109's post to Frequent Posters??

Sorry Relex :(


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on July 08, 2011, 20:51:04
Hmm.  :-\

Upon consideration, I'm rather inclined to leave things as they are: relex109 has already pointed out here, quite emphatically, the particular nature of that youtube item - and that video clip itself is freely available to view, without any similar warning, by anyone simply browsing in youtube.

Chris.


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: johoare on July 08, 2011, 21:06:35
Thanks Chris.. I was going to say the same sort of thing.. But when I saw the post earlier I was still working so had to leave it till now... :)


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on July 08, 2011, 22:40:55
its not a nice video however somewhat proves a point !


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on July 08, 2011, 22:46:28
Absolutely, relex109.  :-X

Two more stories from the BBC, only today, show the dangers of cable theft: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-14075618 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-14059274

All very sad.

Chris.  :-X


Title: Re: Woman injured after touching live rail
Post by: broadgage on July 25, 2011, 14:01:13
I have seen worse on youtube.
There are a number of similar videos, mainly people climbing up masts, poles, or pylons that carry high voltage cables.
Darwin.The video linked to has been removed by you tube.
It showed someone climbing onto the roof a railway carriage and being killed by touching the overhead electrification equipment.Not certain where it was, but not UK.



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