Fatality at Highbridge & Burnham - poor call diversion?

[whole diary]

[John R]

With the line closed between Weston and Taunton the 1730 Padd to Taunton has been diverted after Chippenham, running non stop to Taunton. I counted no more than 4 left on board as it departed Chippenham but many tens inconvenienced travelling to Bath Bristol and North Somerset.  It felt like a decision for operator convenience rather than to minimise passenger disruption to me. Meanwhile sympathies to all those affected by this evening's fatality.

[Southern Stag]

Upon arrival at Taunton the service forms the 2129 Taunton-London Paddington. The line will likely be open by then, but if the train ran its booked route via Bristol then it may end up too late to form the service back up from Taunton.

[John R]

I appreciate that, but I suspect the number of passengers on that service between Taunton and Weston will be fairly minimal. So I still contend that the decision made was more disruptive to passengers than the alternative of running it as far as Weston.

Incidentally at least two of the pax I saw still on board had headphones on, and I do wonder whether they really did intend to stay on board.

[bobm]

Only speculation, which can be dangerous, but isn't the 21:29 the last service of the day from Taunton, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol to London. That might have made it a priority to run.

For those intending to reach Bridgwater, Highbridge and possibly Weston it could have been quicker to allow them to stay on the train and double back however.

[Southern Stag]

I appreciate that, but I suspect the number of passengers on that service between Taunton and Weston will be fairly minimal. So I still contend that the decision made was more disruptive to passengers than the alternative of running it as far as Weston.

Incidentally at least two of the pax I saw still on board had headphones on, and I do wonder whether they really did intend to stay on board.

But the stations between Taunton and Weston have suffered far worse disruption overall today. The 2129 Taunton-Paddington is set to be the first up stopper since the 1707 Taunton-Cardiff. I think it's a fair enough call to get the 2129 Taunton-Paddington run on time considering the overall disruption suffered along there this evening.

[thetrout]

Some XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Services were diverted via Westbury as well. That's atleast an hours delay there immediately for anyone on an XC Service. Assuming said XC Service wasn't late already...

Correct me if I'm wrong.  But as has been mentioned about the 21:29. Isn't that also the 22:35 from Bristol Temple Meads?

If so that is the last direct train from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). The 22:47 from Bath Spa onwards for Chippenham and Swindon is a busy service and also the last train for those stations as well.

My personal view is that it was the right decision in this case. However as also said, allowing passengers to travel via Taunton for Bridgwater etc would have been a sensible option. There are plenty of buses to Bridgwater and enough Taxis on hand I should imagine.

However I doubt many people from CPM^» (Chippenham - next trains) or before would be on that train for Taunton. From Bath Spa that train takes 90 minutes to get to Taunton. Meaning it is often quicker to change at BRI for the 19:44 XC service which overtakes this train whilst it is in Weston-Super-Mare! I used to take this very train or the 18:00 Taunton service from Bath Spa for about 2 years.

Of course. Sympathies to the deceased' family, driver and all else involved.

[John R]

Correct me if I'm wrong.  But as has been mentioned about the 21:29. Isn't that also the 22:35 from Bristol Temple Meads?

If so that is the last direct train from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). The 22:47 from Bath Spa onwards for Chippenham and Swindon is a busy service and also the last train for those stations as well.

You're correct, but my alternative would have had the train in position, either starting from Weston or Bristol, so it would certainly have run that part of the journey.  And yes only around 4 on the service between Chippenham and Taunton.

As it turns out the line had reopened by around 8pm, so if it had continued on it's original route would have got through to Taunton with only around 30 minutes delay beyond Weston. That might have meant a slightly late departure from Taunton depending on the need for crew rest. Of course that's easy to say in hindsight, and it may not have been easy to predict. In most cases I would have thought that the services dealing with the aftermath of the incident would be able to give a reasonable estimate when they are close to finishing their distressing work, though in this case we were advised that the unit was damaged so there was some difficulty in moving it.

All very sad, and once again sympathies to all involved. Their evening was worse than our delay.

[thetrout]

I understand there were also signalling problems around the Bristol area this evening as well. Certainly a few late evening services running under caution through Bath Spa eastwards.

You probably know this train better than I do, as I no longer use these services to the extent I did in 2008 - 2010. But back then when I used to use this service or the earlier 18:00 from Bath Spa, by the time the train reached Weston-Super-Mare. I was often the only passenger in the 2.5 Carriages of First Class. Most other passengers who got off at Taunton boarded after WSM.

My personal view and thoughts to this train would be to put a Special Stop Order in at Westbury to allow passengers to change there for the 19:19 to Bristol Temple Meads. It would also have allowed them a service to Oldfield Park and Keynsham.

That being said, Westbury around this time was rather congested. I was sat between the WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) Station and Fairwood Junction on that very 19:19 train for around 5 minutes. The opposite track contained a Class 59 Loco which was shortly followed by an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) (The timing was right that it was probably your train from Chippenham John) and very quickly followed by a Voyager which was sitting in Platform 1. So it's possible that stopping the 17:30 from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) at Westbury would have made the delays worse, but might have been better for some of the passengers.

I guess though that with a Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads train 30 minutes behind, that meant sending your train Fast to Taunton via Melksham purely to get it out of the way may have been controls thinking. Thus rendering my suggestion fairly less sensible unless you wanted Trowbridge or Warminster etc.

I could imagine that BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) was also rather congested/full platforms with westbound services. They may not have had anywhere to 'park' your train and the others behind it, thus diverting meant no hogging a platform needed for say a Cardiff Central service to reverse. Not to mention the few Voyagers and other units probably  sat around occupying platforms doing nothing already.

Agreed definitely that your suggestion in hindsight is a good one, I'm just wondering with a Signalling issue (assuming it did exist) coupled with possibly limited platforms at BRI, whether that was the reasoning. I'm no expert so couldn't say for definite...

Again, my thoughts to all involved.

[grahame]

My personal view and thoughts to this train would be to put a Special Stop Order in at Westbury to allow passengers to change there for the 19:19 to Bristol Temple Meads. It would also have allowed them a service to Oldfield Park and Keynsham.

Not so sure ...
- How much earlier would people arrive in Bath / Bristol via the dogleg?
- If a lot of people did it, would the 19:19 be "sardines"

However, there IS a significant Swindon / Chippenham to Trowbridge / Westbury flow and a Trowbridge and / or Westbury stop would likely have resulted in quite a few people being pleased at having a direct train home!  Of course, hindsight is marvellous stuff! 

[thetrout]

Not so sure ...
- How much earlier would people arrive in Bath / Bristol via the dogleg?

I covered that in my previous post - : I guess though that with a Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads train 30 minutes behind, that meant sending your train Fast to Taunton via Melksham purely to get it out of the way may have been controls thinking. Thus rendering my suggestion fairly less sensible unless you wanted Trowbridge or Warminster etc.

- If a lot of people did it, would the 19:19 be "sardines"

Probably. However there were a few seats left and this train I've seen have 5 carriages at times. On the day in question however it was a 3 car consist of: Class 150/2 and Class 153.

However, there IS a significant Swindon / Chippenham to Trowbridge / Westbury flow and a Trowbridge and / or Westbury stop would likely have resulted in quite a few people being pleased at having a direct train home!  Of course, hindsight is marvellous stuff!

Indeed. I suspect a stop at Trowbridge though would've held up that XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Service. Which would have been err at least an hour late at Taunton.

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Two male bodies found near Somerset railway station

Police are investigating after the bodies of two men were found near a railway station in Somerset.

The men, aged 30 and 34, have been identified but their names have not yet been released.

One body was found on the Springfield Road foot crossing. He had been hit by a train. The other man's body was discovered close to the railway track next to Highbridge and Burnham station.

British Transport Police do not yet know whether the deaths are connected.

Officers were investigating the death of the first man at approximately 17:45 BST on Thursday when they received a call to say a man had been seen sleeping by the tracks at Highbridge station.

They subsequently found the man was dead but the circumstances of his death are not yet known.

Following the discovery of a second body close to the site of the first incident the British Transport Police released the following statement:

Officers investigating the death of a man who was struck by a train at Springfield Road Foot Crossing, just south of Highbridge and Burnham rail station, on Thursday, July 11, have discovered the body of a second man behind a railway building near to Highbridge and Burnham station.

The second body was discovered at 10.40am this morning and the incident is currently being treated as unexplained.

Officers are working to establish the cause of death although the man found this morning has not been struck by a train. Officers are also working to establish his identity.

At this stage, it is unclear whether there are any links between the man who was hit by a train on Thursday, July 11 and the man who was found behind the railway building on Friday, July 12.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016.

In all calls please quote incident reference 193 of 12/07/13.

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Highbridge and Burnham railway deaths 'not linked'

The deaths of two men found near a Somerset railway station are not believed to be linked, police say.

The bodies of both men were found near Highbridge and Burnham station last Thursday and Friday.

One man, 34, had been hit by a train on the Springfield Road foot crossing. The other, 39, was discovered behind a building.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said both deaths were being treated as unexplained at this stage.

The family of the 34-year-old man, from the Burnham area, has been informed. He was struck by a train at about 17:40 BST on 11 July.

The second man was homeless but believed to be living with friends in the Burnham area. His body was discovered by police at about 10:40 BST on 12 July.

Det Insp Andy Irwin-Porter, of BTP, said: "At this stage, as far as we are aware, there does not appear to be any connection between the two deaths or the two men involved.

"However, inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances leading up to both incidents and we will be keeping an open mind while we continue to gather information."