Objects thrown at HST

[whole diary]

[RichieG]

Admittedly, I may have exaggerated slightly when I said 'plenty' but I used to catch a 346 to and from college on occasions (I live near South Molton and went college and now work in Tivvy) as well as catching a 346 into Barnstaple from SM (the connection I had from my village was usually a 346 not a 307) and there were quite a number of times when it was a DD. I can't say I ever counted mind... I think the 'standard' vehicle for that route though was a normal single decker (as opposed to the short ones). I think that as First neared the end of their monopolic franchse in North Devon they tried to put on DDs between South Molton and Barnstaple wherever possible and now that's the standard with the X7 route, and Stagecoach have them on the 155 for the Tiverton - Exeter leg of the trip to go with the 55 series' of routes (which, I have seen as small single deckers before whilst roaming around Tiverton).

Anyway, muchus apolgeticus for taking this somewhat off-topic here!

[Brucey]

Just saw this story in the Portsmouth Evening News where the train driver sufferred injuries to his eye after having a brick thrown at his train

A pair of youths have been arrested in connection with an incident where a brick was hurled into the cab of a moving train.
The brick was thrown from a bridge at the train shortly after it left Swanwick station, heading towards Southampton, at about 4pm on Tuesday. It smashed the window and injured the driver's eye.

On arrival at Southampton Central station the driver was taken to hospital and later discharged.

Anyone who saw the incident or has information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/fareham-and-meon/Brick-thrown-at-Southampton-bound.6326337.jp

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

British Transport Police (BTP) detectives have arrested a third youth after a brick thrown at a train in Bursledon shattered the driver^s cab window, leaving him with glass in his eyes.

The incident took place around 4pm last Tuesday, 25 May.

After making local inquiries and searching the area immediately after the incident, police arrested a 15-year-old from Sarisbury Green on suspicion of endangering safety.

A second youth ^ a 13-year-old from Sarisbury Green - was arrested the next day, Wednesday 26 May, while a third youth, a 12-year-old, also from Sarisbury Green, was arrested on Monday, 31 May.

All three have been released on police bail pending further enquiries and will return on Monday, 14 and Wednesday, 16 June.

The 2.33pm Brighton to Southampton Central Southern service was passing through the Lower Swanwick area around 4pm when an object was thrown at the driver^s window, shattering the glass and leaving him with glass in his eyes.

The driver, a 43-year-old from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, was taken to hospital by paramedics from the South Central Ambulance Service.

After attending an Eye Clinic at Southampton General Hospital he was discharged later that evening and returned home.

Detective Constable Matt Bevan, based at Southampton BTP station on Blechynden Terrace, said: "This was an extremely foolish and dangerous act that has resulted in a man being injured. We urge those who think that throwing stones and other objects at trains is fun to think about the consequences of their actions which, in this case, could have been much worse.^

[Brucey]

Thanks for the link Chris - at least the driver is okay, albeit probably quite traumatised.

But I just can't understand (and never have understood) why kids would want to do this?  What do they get out of it?  Is it purely because they don't have anything better to do with their time?

[James158]

I've been on a bus just outside Havant where some local yobs chucked a brick through the window.  The window smashed and the brick landed on the seat.  Fortunately there was no-one sat nearby.  Very scary incident that could have been much more dangerous.

Perhaps a job for our new government?  Finding things for these kids to do?

Me and my mum were also on a bus in Bristol that had a glass bottle thrown through the window near the doorway. Thankfully the bus was empty so no injuries.