Ealing Broadway - station facilities, access issues and many sad incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Thanks for posting those constructive and thought-provoking comments, trainer.

My understanding is the person in question didn't die at the scene and was taken by paramedics, so I do hope that the person gets the help they need and has a speedy recovery.

Thoughts do of course go to those involved who witnessed it all.

Indeed so, as reported by the Ealing Gazette

AN ELDERLY woman is recovering in hospital after being hit by a train on Sunday.

The victim, believed to be in her 70s, was treated at the scene for head injuries Ealing Broadway station.

A witness who asked not to be named, said he was on the other side of the platform when she was hit by the fast-moving overground train which was not stopping at the station.

He said: ^I heard a loud bang and tuned around and then I saw something on the platform. I didn^t realise it was a person until I got closer and then ran quickly to alert staff and called an ambulance. She was bleeding quite heavily from her face but she was breathing. The train had stopped further down the track.

^It was a shock. I^m just glad to hear she wasn^t more seriously hurt."

Four ambulances, medics in a motorbike and one in a car as well as the team from London's air ambulance in a car were sent at about 4.10pm. She was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington by ambulance escorted by a doctor from the air ambulance. Her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The station was closed for about half an hour.

British Transport Police are still investigating the cause of the accident but say they are not treating it as suspicious.

[Brucey]

Passing through stations at high speed, it can be quite shocking to see how close some people stand to the edge, even after the driver has used the horn.

[trainer]

I am grateful to have all these updates and I am not going to speculate specifically on why this poor lady came to be struck, but I agree with Brucey's last observation.  While waiting at Yatton on 4th Feb I noticed a teenage girl with a pair of earphones clasped to her ears standing close to the edge of the platform even after a recorded and visual announcement was made to stand clear because a non-stop service was passing through.  I was too far away to have made myself heard even if she had not had music pounding in her ears.  Fortunately she casually looked up and sauntered over the yellow line as the Crosscountry train, probably going at line speed (100mph at Yatton I think), reached the platform possibly having heard the horn, but she seemed completely unconcerned. 

On another occasion I watched a wheeled suit case blow over towards the platform edge as a goods train passed through and thought then that they can create as much turbulence, or more, as a fast passenger train.  Perhaps the yellow line warnings need to be more prominently signed at station entrances.  I hesitate to advocate yet more signage, but if it is effective is preventing accidents, it is a good thing.

[paul7575]

 
On another occasion I watched a wheeled suit case blow over towards the platform edge as a goods train passed through and thought then that they can create as much turbulence, or more, as a fast passenger train. 

They definitely make far more turbulence, which is why yellow lines on platforms are required for freight at 60 mph, but not for passenger trains unless they exceed 100 mph.  Many existing yellow lines are not actually required under the current group standard - which might be why they are often ignored...

http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Infrastructure/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GIRT7016%20Iss%204.pdf

Paul

[johoare]

It worries me at Slough too.. since the Windsor train comes in right next to the fast up mainline platform.. And I would imagine it might have a higher than average amount of tourists on or people that aren't used to that station at least..

[BBM]

Citing a non-FGW^▸ (First Great Western) example, one day a few years ago I travelled to and from Potters Bar and I found the platforms very narrow and uncomfortable by the waiting rooms whenever fast trains passed through (although I think the line speed there is 110 mph rather than 125). The picture in the link below shows what I mean:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/PBR/images/photos/800/o2709-0000052.jpg

[Brucey]

At Wembley Central, the station operator (London Underground) have gone as far as restricting access to the "slow line" platforms (used by London Midland and Southern services) until just 5 minutes before the train departs.  The line speed there is high and the platforms are very narrow.  A very good idea, in my opinion, which could be expanded to other stations across the country.

[grahame]

At [snip] have gone as far as restricting access to the [snip] platforms until just 5 minutes before the train departs.  A very good idea, in my opinion, which could be expanded to other stations across the country.

Forgive my snipping, Brucey.   It's probably a good idea at Wembley Central but I would be worried about it being extended too much.   It's already done at Paddington at times, and (there) it results in an sea of people on the concourse, a stampede for the train with the elderly, infirm, those with heavy luggage and expectant left behind and unable to get seats which have all been grabbed by the athletic and fit passengers.

[bobm]

I agree it would need to be done on a station by station basis.  At some there is nowhere to stand for a train other than on the platform.  The alternatives being a subway or even outside the station itself.

[TerminalJunkie]

It's already done at Paddington at times, and (there) it results in an sea of people on the concourse

If a train came through Paddington at high speed, it would probably be somewhat safer on the platforms rather than the concourse...

[johoare]

It's already done at Paddington at times, and (there) it results in an sea of people on the concourse

If a train came through Paddington at high speed, it would probably be somewhat safer on the platforms rather than the concourse...

 

[Jason]

Incident occurred near Ealing Broadway ~14:00
All lines reopen as of ~16:00

[bobm]

Reports of a person hit by a train at Ealing Broadway.

Thoughts with everyone involved.

A lot of trains coming up from the West of England have been reported full and standing during the morning so a lot of people likely to be caught up in the disruption.

[BBM]

Twitter user @AlanGurling has tweeted the following photo of the scene outside Ealing Broadway station at around 1300 today, there seems to be a lot of emergency services vehicles present:



Also the following from Ealing Today: http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=info&page=eaebtrain002.htm

A woman's been killed after being struck by an Oxford to Paddington train at Ealing Broadway this lunchtime.

British Transport Police say: '' BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) officers were called to the line close to Ealing Broadway Railway station on Saturday 30th August after a report that a woman had been struck by a train.

''The incident was reported at 12.27 and is being treated as non suspicious. Medics pronounced the woman dead at the scene. A file will be prepared for the Coroner.

The line will be handed back to Network Rail at 1400

[bobm]

From getwestlondon

A man has sadly died after being struck by a train at Ealing Broadway station, British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) have confirmed.

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said she heard a scream at about 9.10 this morning (January 7).

A BTP spokesman said: ^Our officers were called to Ealing Broadway station just after 9am on Wednesday, January 7, after reports of a person being struck by a train.

^Colleagues from London Ambulance Service also attended, but a man was pronounced dead at the scene.

^Officers are now working to identify the man and inform his family.

^The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.^