Train station manager sacked for moving trolley off line

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A train station manager was sacked for moving a shopping trolley from the track fearing a derailment, prompting an angry reaction from villagers.

Ian Faletto, who had worked for South West Trains for 27 years, was based at Lymington station, Hampshire, which has a single-track running through it.

South West Trains said Mr Faletto was dismissed for a "serious safety breach" which was upheld at an appeal hearing.

Residents said he always went the "extra mile for passengers".

The single-track branch line runs between Lymington and Brockenhurst in the New Forest.

The Reverend Alex Russell, vicar of St Mark's Church, Pennington, has started a petition calling for Mr Faletto's reinstatement. "I'm really delighted about how much support there clearly is for Ian and he deserves it because he has always gone the extra mile for passengers," she said. "The station has been immaculate, there are things for the children to do, sweets for them to eat, flowers out every day, he is always dressed beautifully. There's just nothing I can find to criticise about Ian and it appears local people agree with me."

In the past Mr Faletto, who wore a button hole, has won a number of awards for customer service which included Sway station - where he previously worked - being named station of the year.

A South West Trains spokesperson said an employee had been dismissed for a "serious breach of safety".

"This action was taken following a full and thorough internal investigation and the decision was also upheld at an appeal hearing," he said. "Our absolute priority is to run a safe railway for our passengers and staff. All of our employees are aware of the importance of complying with the strict rules governing railway safety, which we have a duty to enforce, and the serious consequences of disregarding them."

[Brucey]

Also reported in the Echo, with the usual array of comments: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9019438.Stationmaster_fired__for_removing_trolley_from_railway_/

Given that this line has third rail electrification and a shopping trolley conducts electricity, I would suspect the safest solution would be to call control and get the next train stopped/traction current switched off.

[Rhydgaled]

Also reported in the Echo, with the usual array of comments: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9019438.Stationmaster_fired__for_removing_trolley_from_railway_/

Given that this line has third rail electrification and a shopping trolley conducts electricity, I would suspect the safest solution would be to call control and get the next train stopped/traction current switched off.

Would the station manager in question have been likely to get sacked for removing the trolley if the line was not electrified?

[Electric train]

Also reported in the Echo, with the usual array of comments: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9019438.Stationmaster_fired__for_removing_trolley_from_railway_/

Given that this line has third rail electrification and a shopping trolley conducts electricity, I would suspect the safest solution would be to call control and get the next train stopped/traction current switched off.

Would the station manager in question have been likely to get sacked for removing the trolley if the line was not electrified?

Yes, station staff are not generally track safety trained, a shopping trolley is unlikely to derail a train.  There are procedures in place to deal with these type of incidents

[paul7575]

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) he wasn't a 'station master' at all - that's media inacuracy for you.

Small stations like Lymington Town are usually single manned by ticket office staff, who are also possibly responsible for general cleanliness as well.  Station management is done on an area basis nowadays.

Paul

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

correct me if im wrong Lymington is the end of the line....

i dont know on one hand health and safety rules do go too far these days

but all he had to do was slip while holding the trolly and would have been frying tonight....... which carry on film was that?

[inspector_blakey]

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) he wasn't a 'station master' at all - that's media inacuracy for you.

Somewhat debatable - there was an article about the Lymington branch in Rail going back a few years which made it clear that Mr Faletto was widely (albeit unofficially) known as the Lymington station master. It's certainly true that his involvement in the station went far beyond his duties selling tickets, as he was also maintained the waiting room with books/children's toys etc etc and the floral displays (frequently out of his own pocket), and was responsible mroe or less singlehandedly for the very special and distinctive atmosphere of the town station.

[Trowres]

We do not have the complete facts on this story.

However, we can deal with the postulate that "railway rules are sacrosanct, and their breach is a sacking offence".

It comes to many a rail worker that they have to make a snap decision on whether or not to play by the rule book. Let's just modify the above scenario a little...

Station staff sees pram on track. Possibly occupied. Train due in 1 minute.

What happens next?

Do the following words have any impact?: "As well as reporting the hazard, you must take any other necessary action" (I think there may be an issue here that the "rule book" doesn't apply to station staff - perhaps someone could advise?)

My musings relate to the generality of obstructions on track, and not to the specifics of the Lymington case.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

well, we could keep changing the variables we could make it on a runway or a motorway... the fact is it was an electrified line and it was a shopping trolly and as you said there are rules, if it was written into the contract that wearing black socks will result in dismissal then guess what...

[JayMac]

correct me if im wrong Lymington is the end of the line....

Lymington (Town) is the penultimate station and the one with the manned ticket office. Lymington Pier is the end of the line.

[Tim]

Well the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) must not ignore the rule breaking.  They muist take it very serious with giving the chap a dressing down and a formal written warning retrainign or whatever, but what is the piont in sacking him?  it was a mistake or error or judgement rather than something like stealing from the till which would have a moral failing. 

[ChrisB]

Indeed - I would have given him a final written warning & demoted him to a larger station with supervision for a period.

[Brucey]

The Telegraph give some more details: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8506898/Award-winning-station-manager-sacked-for-removing-trolley-from-track.html

Of particular importance

"I was also told that the power hadn't actually been turned off either.

Given the train was not due for thirty minutes, I can't see this ever being considered an "emergency situation".

A comment on the Daily Echo website suggests he has previously received warnings.

[ChrisB]

Indeed, someone left on his own for too long, assuming he can be superman.

[grahame]

Folks ... as the person concerned has been named in the press, I guess there any issues of his privacy have been shattered so there's no sense in sticking with our normal convention of not naming opeational staff.   However ... we certainly seem to be very close to making judgements based on press reports, which are not necessarily accurate and complete ... and it's very unfair (and potenially a problem for the site operator) is we do so.   Can we please desist?