Body of woman, 21, found at Maidenhead station (22 May 2010)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Maidenhead Advertiser:

A body found on the tracks at Maidenhead train station was that of a 21-year-old woman, police have confirmed.
A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) can confirm that the body of a 21-year-old woman was found on the tracks at Maidenhead rail station today. Police were called to the scene at 6.22am. Thames Valley Police and the local ambulance service also attended. The body has injuries consistent with being hit by a train. The incident is currently being treated as unexplained."
Disruption was caused to the Reading to London Paddington service this morning following the discovery.
First Great Western said trains are now running normally.

[IanC]

I was a passenger on the 0358 Swansea - Paddington (boarded at Newport) and our train came to a stop at Didcot Parkway just before 7am when an announcement came on saying there'll be a delay to to a fatality on the line in the Maidenhead area.

Some passengers who wanted to go to Reading only were told to go onto a CrossCountry train that was bound for Bournemouth, but I stayed on, where we eventually left after a 25 odd minute delay.

I believe this woman was hit by a freight train as when going slowly through Maidenhead station there was a freight train on the far left line, with us on one of the relief lines.

We got into Paddington 36 mintues late.

[Electric train]

Unfortunately I know this young woman and her family, about 5 years ago she was a member of a youth group I am involved with, a tragic loss of such a young life.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for your post, Electric train. 

I only publicise these sad incidents for the information of our members (and the wider public, who are able to view this forum), as they relate to the running of trains in the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) area.

Every such incident is obviously a very traumatic event for the family and friends of the person involved, and may I therefore offer our sympathy and condolences to all those affected, on this occasion.

Chris. 

[Oxman]

What is particularly sad is that this woman, I understand, was removed from the track late on the previous evening by BTP^▸ (British Transport Police), in what was apparently a failed attempt at suicide. Goodness knows what happened in between.

This is the second time in a month that someone has returned after being removed from the line by BTP. (The first was the suicide at Cholsey a few weeks ago).

[Ollie]

What is particularly sad is that this woman, I understand, was removed from the track late on the previous evening by BTP^▸ (British Transport Police), in what was apparently a failed attempt at suicide. Goodness knows what happened in between.

This is the second time in a month that someone has returned after being removed from the line by BTP. (The first was the suicide at Cholsey a few weeks ago).

Is it definitely the same or coincidence? I haven't seen anything that says otherwise.

If it's the same woman, I assume this will mean BTP themselves getting investigated?

[eightf48544]

It's on the front page of today's Maidenhead Advertiser.

It appears that she was taken by ambulance staff to hospital assessed discharged and reffered to Berkshire Healthcare Trust.

So perhaps not BTPs^▸ (British Transport Police) fault.

[Ollie]

Ahh, it's a sad story all the same..

[johoare]

Very sad.. There are flowers and condolence notes at the station, both out the front and on platform 1 where I guess it happened.. Such a waste