Taplow now 600% Safer

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

Was at the station yesterday evening and saw that we have been Nailsea'd.

At either end of Platforms 2,3 and 4 were these emaculate spiked fences with gate across the ramp with the rubber steps and handholds down the ramp edge.

As one of our members said, "What is the problem these fences are meant to solve?" 

Bearing in mind the last two serious incidents at Taplow occurred from the platform and the one before that from the footbridge.

It will also spoil picture of trains on the Relief lines from Platform 1.

Do train crews carry keys? Because on both the Up Main and Up Relief it is now impossible for the driver to get to signal post phone at the end of the platform below the ramp.

[G.Uard]

Do train crews carry keys? Because on both the Up Main and Up Relief it is now impossible for the driver to get to signal post phone at the end of the platform below the ramp.

CSR^▸ (Cab Secure Radio) in this case I would imagine.  As used when there is restricted clearance at an SPT^▸ (Signal Post Telephone).


Sorry, Cab Secure Radio and Signal Post Telephone

For those who don't work in the industry, you will often see internal railway telephone numbers affixed to signal posts etc.  These are provided in specific locations so that crew can contact the signaller without descending onto the track and into potential danger.

[autotank]

They have put these at Twyford as well - what a joke! Anybody that wants to get trackside will either walk round them on the rubber pointy bits (not as good as wooden diagonal ones) or jumps off the platform.

I bet they cost at least a grand or two each to install!

[IndustryInsider]

Couldn't agree more. They're ineffective, expensive, cumbersome for staff, and an eyesore. But, if it gets another tick in the box of a safety auditors crib sheet then NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will no doubt consider them worthwhile.

[grahame]

CSR^▸ (Cab Secure Radio) in this case I would imagine.  As used when there is restricted clearance at an SPT^▸ (Signal Post Telephone).
Sorry, Cab Secure Radio and Signal Post Telephone

Thanks - I got "Chassen Road" and "Stockport" out of those and thought you had gone North West 

[Electric train]

My thoughts are, HMIR has made a recommendation, possibly due to an incident where Joe Public has wandered off of the end of a platform, a sign is insufficient as a barrier.  Train drivers are used to seeing people wandering around on platforms, they do get a bit jumpy when they seen people wandering around on the track if they have not got HiVis clothing on.   As from the 1 January 2009 all NR^» (Network Rail - home page) maintenance staff and the 1 April 2009 for all other NR staff and contractors will be required to wear full body HiVis clothing.

It is likely that Train Crews will have keys as it looks like a standard GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) track access lock.

[eightf48544]

They have put these at Twyford as well - what a joke! Anybody that wants to get trackside will either walk round them on the rubber pointy bits (not as good as wooden diagonal ones) or jumps off the platform.

I bet they cost at least a grand or two each to install!

Couldn't agree more. They're ineffective, expensive, cumbersome for staff, and an eyesore. But, if it gets another tick in the box of a safety auditors crib sheet then NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will no doubt consider them worthwhile.

In 1923 Mallory the mountaineer is reported to have said, when asked why climb Everest? Answered  "Because it's there"

2009 BTC policeman to young person why climb past the fence. Answer "Because it's there"

By putting the fence up you are tending say "keep out" which makes beyond the fence desirable and almost a provocation to a game of "dare".

After all there is no skill in walking down the ramp but getting past the rubber obstacles is a challenge. 
 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I've made this observation before, but it is still valid, I think:

These new security gates, galvanised spiked metal railings and rubber mat 'trip hazards' are a recent addition to selected stations, certainly - but how it is being decided which stations should have them is still not clear.

However, on a rather sombre note, there has been at least one fatality at Bedminster, involving someone being on the tracks - but none at Nailsea & Backwell, so far as I'm aware?  See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3703594.stm 

It does seem rather odd, then, that Nailsea had these 'barriers' installed long ago - but there is still no evidence of them even being planned for Bedminster?

[Electric train]

I've made this observation before, but it is still valid, I think:

These new security gates, galvanised spiked metal railings and rubber mat 'trip hazards' are a recent addition to selected stations, certainly - but how it is being decided which stations should have them is still not clear.

However, on a rather sombre note, there has been at least one fatality at Bedminster, involving someone being on the tracks - but none at Nailsea & Backwell, so far as I'm aware?  See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3703594.stm 

It does seem rather odd, then, that Nailsea had these 'barriers' installed long ago - but there is still no evidence of them even being planned for Bedminster?

Taplow has had a number of suicides in the recent past

[Chris from Nailsea]

I do acknowledge that, Electric train. 

But as eightf48544 wrote, in the original post here:

Bearing in mind the last two serious incidents at Taplow occurred from the platform and the one before that from the footbridge.

... how does installing these 'barriers' at the far ends of station platforms actually deal with that sad situation?

[Electric train]

I am not sure but there are now also being installed today at Maidenhead

[smokey]

They have put these at Twyford as well - what a joke! Anybody that wants to get trackside will either walk round them on the rubber pointy bits (not as good as wooden diagonal ones) or jumps off the platform.

I bet they cost at least a grand or two each to install!

More like ^4000 pounds EACH

[BBM]

I noticed this morning that Slough now has these too.

[eightf48544]

The really interesting thing at Taplow is that the Platform 1 the Down Main has not yet been done.

It is quite narrow at the ends so there probably isn't room for a gate and fence and rubber mat.

So what's the point of the others?

[Electric train]

The really interesting thing at Taplow is that the Platform 1 the Down Main has not yet been done.

It is quite narrow at the ends so there probably isn't room for a gate and fence and rubber mat.

So what's the point of the others?

I did wonder this as well then a thought struck me that may be they will fence and gate at the bottom of the steps allowing access to the car park and exit the gate being fitted with a panic release on the platform side, one like this was fitted on platform 1 exit at Maidenhead when that was refurbished