Cardiff to London train delayed while driver was 'psychologically evaluated'

[whole diary]

[The SprinterMeister]

I think what this helps to highlight is the lack of understanding by the public of the principles of railway signalling. Most people think it's like a road trffic light where you can be approaching a green signal which changes to amber/red in front of you.

I am not for one moment reducing the effect the (Cat B SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger - very bad!)) event had on the driver but I'm not sure it's realistic to expect the general public to be interested in how signaling works. I think if you tried to explain the principles of it to alot of travellers their eyes would just glaze over!

Trains are however driven by drivers who do understand the principles of railway signalling and allowance has to be made for events like this. Getting a red signal in your face at 125mph is quite a start to the system. Many things pass through the mind in the minute or so it takes the train to grind to a halt with the brake in emergency and possibly the emergency plunger operated as well. Better for the passengers to arrive a little late while the driver is met, assessed and if neccessary replaced instead of having the driver fidgeting their way to London at 125mph thinking about the incident and possibly distracting themselves to the extent where much greater issues arise. I do get a little weary when people say that 'This is so when I am driving my car around the town, it should be so on the railway' to be honest.

^People were surprised that the train was delayed further at Swindon, because we^d been told the train should be able to move forward at normal speed from there.

^Some of us were astonished to hear that the driver had to be assessed to see whether he was fit to continue. It sounded as if there was concern he could have been traumatised by the delay.

What a bunch of clarts....

[The SprinterMeister]

Using tetminology like "psychological assessment".  Can't they just say to check if the driver was fit to continue.

The South Wales Parish Magazine came up with the "psychological assessment" drivel, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) merely checked the driver was fit to continue towards Paddington.

Don't believe everything you read in newspapers.....

[BerkshireBugsy]

Trains are however driven by drivers who do understand the principles of railway signalling and allowance has to be made for events like this. Getting a red signal in your face at 125mph is quite a start to the system.

Sorry if my post about the "general public not being aware of the intricases of signalling" gave the impression I was in any suggesting the impact on the driver (of a spad).

On the contrary I have been on a train service where a tresspasser suddenly jumped in front of the train causing the driver to bring the train to an emergency stop. In that case there was no physical injury to anyone on the train or the trasspasser but one thing the train manager was very good at was explaining what had happened and what was going to happen. I was so impressed a complimentary email followed to customer services.

[Super Guard]

^However safety is our number one priority...."

Um no it isn't, maximising profits for shareholders is. Why do privatised infrastructure monopolies insist on saying "safety is our number one priority" when it is patently untrue.

Disclaimer: i work in an industry that also uses this maxim

I disagree. Maximising shareholder profit is essential to any company, but working in a safe environment (and providing one) is more important.

Even a company who only care about shareholder profit are going to care about safety, as profits and share price will go in one direction if a safety breach results in fines/prosecutions.

[ellendune]

Even a company who only care about shareholder profit are going to care about safety, as profits and share price will go in one direction if a safety breach results in fines/prosecutions.

A lack of profits can cause a director to loose their job.

A lack of care for safety can lead to a director being personally prosecuted (and loose thier job).