Stuck in a train overnight.

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

Over the years, I've met at least two people who have woken up on an empty train in a siding early in the morning after an evening of extended refreshment.

[Ralph Ayres]

In my younger days I tried to get left on a train late at night to avoid a long wait outdoors for the first train in the morning but always got spotted; I obviously needed some tips from these two!  I do hope the indignant mother has now stopped trying to blame railway staff.

[ChrisB]

Over the years, I've met at least two people who have woken up on an empty train in a siding early in the morning after an evening of extended refreshment.

Not extended refreshment, just tiredness after catching the old 'milk train' (really newspapers) back to the kent coast in my youth....those compartment coaching stock with decent heaters....you couldn't stay awake!

[stuving]

Over the years, I've met at least two people who have woken up on an empty train in a siding early in the morning after an evening of extended refreshment.

The only time I "tried" that, on a tube train, I was woken up and booted out of Ealing Broadway station a bit after midnight. Having sat on a park bench until I felt like doing something, I set off to walk the three miles plus home to Greenford where I was meant to be - and then had to explain to the local constabulary what I was up to and what I had under my arm. As that was a box full of small hand tools - screwdrivers, spanners, files, etc. - it was a proverbially long story, officer ...

[grahame]

In my younger days I tried to get left on a train late at night ..

Ah - I remember doing all line rovers in my youth ... the 18:58 Aberystwyth to York was a very useful train for a good long kip during the night if you didn't want to get to end up in more extreme places!

[Bob_Blakey]

Could it possibly be because Bonnie doesn't understand the concept of Parental Responsibility?

Given the new information concerning the circumstances of this incident I rather think that Bonnie is 'guilty as charged'. It is not always the rail industry that is at fault.

[broadgage]

Might not be the fault of the mother.
Sounds to me more like the sort of relatively minor misbehavior to which children are prone.
Not to be encouraged, but also not hugely serious. No significant harm resulted.

Next time, buy a ticket, let mother know.

[ChrisB]

I think the point being made was that it wasn't the fault of the railstaff either - as their mother was trying pass the buck to them.

[broadgage]

I think the point being made was that it wasn't the fault of the rail staff either - as their mother was trying pass the buck to them.

With that I agree.

[TaplowGreen]

I think the point being made was that it wasn't the fault of the railstaff either - as their mother was trying pass the buck to them.

Being objective, all involved can learn from this experience, and I hope that all involved can recognise and acknowledge that.

[IndustryInsider]

Being objective, all involved can learn from this experience, and I hope that all involved can recognise and acknowledge that.

Indeed.  From the thread over on Railforums it is alleged that one of the mothers has spoken to BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) to apologise, with the other one still blaming Scotrail.

However, as one poster over on that forum said, it's a shame that many people would have read the original story in the various places it was published, thought bad of Scotrail, and won't then find out about the truer version of events.

[TaplowGreen]

Being objective, all involved can learn from this experience, and I hope that all involved can recognise and acknowledge that.

Indeed.  From the thread over on Railforums it is alleged that one of the mothers has spoken to BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) to apologise, with the other one still blaming Scotrail.

However, as one poster over on that forum said, it's a shame that many people would have read the original story in the various places it was published, thought bad of Scotrail, and won't then find out about the truer version of events.

One of the reasons I emphasised the word "objective" was in the knowledge that there will be at least a dozen "truer versions of events", largely depending on speculation, the authors perspective and narrative.

Defensiveness and shifting blame around (on all sides) won't achieve much - it's the learnings that matter as I alluded to above.

The most important outcome of this, because none involved have covered themselves in glory, is that Scotrail examine their processes to make sure that they are sufficiently robust to prevent a reoccurrence for passengers of any age, both for the safety and security of all and the network as a whole - no-one, irrespective of age, should ever be left locked in a train overnight.

No doubt the girls concerned will have learned an uncomfortable lesson about just how cold it is possible to get on a railway carriage overnight in Scotland, and their parents, who were no doubt driven to distraction with worry, will probably have a "quiet" word about their future behaviour and the desirability of keeping their phones charged at all times.

As per children throughout history, they will nod sagely, promise to be more careful in future, and within a month or two of enjoying some minor celebrity amongst their friends will carry on as before.

...........and the world will keep on spinning.

[IndustryInsider]

...........and the world will keep on spinning.

As will the press.