Fatalities at and around Twyford Station (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Phil]

The announcer at Paddington was giving this out as "a person trapped by a train" at around 2:30 today when I got there. As I was travelling to Westbury, I took one look at the crowd, turned straight round at the top of the tube exit, dodged down the Bakerloo to Waterloo and caught the next SW Trains service to Salisbury (scheduled to arrive at 16:42, exactly one minute AFTER the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) service to Westbury departs. Hmph.)

[johoare]

I think I might go to the pub rather than Paddington...and wait for it to calm down a bit..

[Electric train]

Trains started to depart Padd at about 16:40(ish) I got on the 17:18, which I was planning to do, it left at about 17:30 and still connected with the Marlow branch, I think FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) got things moving as quickly as possible there were trains being canceled which is bound to continue through out the peak

[BBM]

Under the circumstances my journey back to Twyford this evening wasn't too bad. I arrived at Paddington at about 16:50 to see almost everything as 'delayed'. I flagged the 16:57 stopper in the hope that the 17:06 (Westbury) would run but in fact like Electric Train I caught the 17:18 which reached Twyford at about 18:05. (LDB showed that the 17:06 left at 17:40 and reached Twyford at 18:18.)

There were crowds at both Maidenhead and Twyford (the latter swelled by home-going Henley Regatta visitors) so it would appear that there hadn't been any Down trains for quite a while. At Twyford both fast lines were closed and Police were combing the tracks. Both platforms 1 & 2 were cordoned-off including the section of the footbridge over the fast lines.

I also noticed on leaving Paddington that there was a stationary empty HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on Line 1 between Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove and another one on the incline on the empty carriage flyover next to North Pole Depot. Both appeared to be displaying red lights at both ends and neither of them appeared to have any staff on board. Was this indicative of some other problem?

[James Vertigan]

Things are not being helped by a signal failure in West Ealing which took out the Greenford trains. I had to get a Twyford train earlier to Ealing Broadway then travel home to Acton by bus.

One woman on the train ranted about health and safety although I don't know whether she meant the packed state of the train or the fact the problem was being announced as a fatality, but Id agree with her if she meant the packed train!

[johoare]

Well I was good and had just the one drink to prepare me for my journey.  Headed off to Paddington for the 19.18 fast to Maidenhead. Kings of Leon in Hyde Park made all the buses a bit slow so I got to Paddington at 19.17 and had to just jump on a train at platform 9 (other people were running for it so I joined in  )..

It turned out to be the slightly delayed 19.15 stopping service but it was going the right way and I have since found out that 19.18 was cancelled.. So although I was half an hour later than planned it wasn't too bad in the circumstances..

[IndustryInsider]

The location of the incident at Twyford was both a help and a hinderence.  The extra crowds of Regatta goers meant a very nasty sight for many passengers as the suicide did make quite a mess over a fairly large area, but at least there were plenty of staff on site assisting with the Regatta crowds who could then help with things before the police arrived.  

The Up and Down main remained closed for many hours after the incident whilst the police no doubt took more time clearing than usual bearing in mind the nature of the death and the discovery of the woman's body shortly before.

The usual chaos ensued well into the night, with headless 'chicken syndrome' affecting everybody due to the fact that a lot of the old local decision making now needs to be done through Swindon.

[Ollie]

Relief lines were given at about 15:00 with a speed limit of 40mph.
Main lines were given at about 18:30.

My thoughts to the driver, and the family of the 2 people involved in this.

The station - except booking hall were closed when I got there at 2:20pm, and only when the relief lines got reopened were passengers allowed to get on platforms.

I didn't see the mess in which II is referring to, but I was there about 30mins after it happened so perhaps the main bit was cleared?

But to be honest it's not worth thinking about.

[James158]

Yet another fatality on the line between Reading and London Paddington. This time it happened at Twyford. It is inevitable as the trains pass through so fast. Was it because the women died earlier and he wanted to kill himself? so he decided to jump in front of a passing train. Trains are still being disrupted this morning but only slight delays. Update from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website at 00:30.

Line problem between London Paddington and Reading.

Train services have been disrupted due to a person hit by a train earlier between London Paddington and Reading. Short notice alterations and delays of up to 15 minutes may still occur.

[Ollie]

Was it because the women died earlier and he wanted to kill himself? so he decided to jump in front of a passing train.

It's best to wait for the official update from Thames Valley Police.

[johoare]

Yep I agree with Ollie.. Best not to speculate.. It's not a nice situation...

[Phil]

It's best to wait for the official update from Thames Valley Police.

So far all they're saying is that the deaths are "unexplained"

Thames Valley Police confirmed the body found at the house was that of an adult female. They are treating both deaths as unexplained and have not yet confirmed if they are linked.

from The Daily Mirror, which is currently running it under the rather heartless and grammatically odd headline "Woman body find as man hit by train"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2010/07/01/woman-body-find-as-man-hit-by-train-115875-22373902/

[jane s]

There was still a tarpaulin covering "something" when we went past at about 18:15.

Why did it take this long to clear? Surely the priority should be to get things moving asap if it was a clear case of suicide as this was?

How can an examination of this scene have anything to do with the murder the guy had committed earlier? It's not as if they need to get evidence for a prosecution, is it......?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.

Rather than continue to speculate about this incident, I'm putting a temporary lock on this topic, until the facts become clear.

Chris. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

In view of the increasingly detailed coverage of these sad events which has been appearing in the press throughout today, I'm now unlocking this topic: thank you all for your patience.

The latest article, from the Daily Mail, gives a good summary: our thoughts must be with the train driver and the daughter, family and friends of the deceased.

C.