Platform Edge Sitting

[Iskra]

It's not just the youth who are clinically stupid regarding the railway.

I very nearly come to blows with a "mature" enthusiast who decided that droplight rules didn't apply to him and decided to hang out of a window whilst headed towards Sutton weaver tunnel. I popped out of the toilet to see this buffoon flailing.

He understood the error of his ways after being thrown from said window to the floor and given a royal bollocking from me, which attracted the guard who disposed of the male at the next stop.

Your behaviour is nothing to be proud of.

 

[Stampy]

<Cites example of that bloke videoing a steam engine an inch from being wiped out by a passing 170>

This one???

 

[142Pilot]

Your behaviour is nothing to be proud of.

Is it not?

Saving an idiot from himself made me rather proud - as at the length the moron was hanging out there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Unless you partake is said idiotic practices.......

 

[Iskra]

Is it not?

Saving an idiot from himself made me rather proud - as at the length the moron was hanging out there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Unless you partake is said idiotic practices.......

There were much more mature and less confrontational ways of achieving the same outcome. And you could easily have injured him. Boasting about it on the internet again isn't very mature.

No I don't.

 

[pitdiver]

In London when we were about 11 we had someone from TfL come in and spend half a day discussing safety on public transport in general, including hazards on/around tubes and trains. A few things I remember were the hazards of the inter-carriage doors on the Tube, danger of vandalising safety equipment and not to throw anything at a train (we were told this could lead to life imprisonment if it caused a crash).

I was one of those people from TfL. It was calledb"Junior Citizen". There would have been a number of different organisations present who would run differentscenarios about travel etc. I did it for LUL, there would have been someone fron London Buses, and one of the Railway companies. These event s would be run in community centres and suchlike. or as the OP states people would visit schools. Eventually the railway company stopped attending so I offered to do their presentation. This was great because along with a couple of Videos came a large amount of free giveaways.
Halcyon days.

 

[trainophile]

Crewe station seems to be very hot on the "stand behind the yellow line" rule recently. To my embarrassment my OH was targeted by a personal tannoy the other day on Platform 11 - I was waiting with our bags while he wandered to the south end, and had to run after him to tell him to for goodness sake stand away from the yellow lines!

Coming back yesterday evening at the same station the PA chap was getting more and more irate telling some idiot to stand back on Platform 6. This delayed the departure of a Euston train, and only left a couple of minutes for our ATW to get into the platform. Apparently the bloke concerned was shouting that he wasn't standing, he was walking! As if that made any difference .

 

[142Pilot]

There were much more mature and less confrontational ways of achieving the same outcome. And you could easily have injured him. Boasting about it on the internet again isn't very mature.

No I don't.

I'm not sure you get this.

I walked out of the toilet, having route knowledge of the line realised that we were imminently approaching a tunnel where flailling like a moron would end at best with severe wall rash and at worst a decaptiation.

I didn't have time to explain the options to the idiot. I acted rapidly and after his complaint, well in accordance with what my TOC considers acceptable.

But I'm all ears. Please explain how reacting in a more mature civilazed manner would of prevented him from extreme risk of injury.

 

[Bucephalus]

I was at Dorking Deepdene yesterday morning and this scene greeted me at the eastern end of the platforms....

View attachment 53466

Great photo by the way

 

[_toommm_]

Platform sitting is quite common on the Supertram, particularly at the terminus stations like Meadowhall. IMO there's nothing inherently wrong with it there, as most people stay aware - I've been guilty of doing it at Meadowhall tram stop in the past..

 

[silverfoxcc]

Whilst your actions may well have been ok in your mind

What would you have done IF and it is a big IF this chap may have had a knife (extreme case)and thought you were going to attack him,and you got stabbed possibly fatally OR no knife but he was rather adept at knocking seven colours out of you, claiming self defence as you ASSAULTED him,and lets face it you did. I can see you now in hospital claiming to all and sundry 'I was in the right'
I hope you never meet one as described.

 

[marcouk2]

I'm not sure you get this.

I walked out of the toilet, having route knowledge of the line realised that we were imminently approaching a tunnel where flailling like a moron would end at best with severe wall rash and at worst a decaptiation.

I didn't have time to explain the options to the idiot. I acted rapidly and after his complaint, well in accordance with what my TOC considers acceptable.

But I'm all ears. Please explain how reacting in a more mature civilazed manner would of prevented him from extreme risk of injury.

How would tapping him on the shoulder and saying "Excuse me Sir" not have been a far more sensible option?

 

[142Pilot]

How would tapping him on the shoulder and saying "Excuse me Sir" not have been a far more sensible option?

Because said chap was out of the window heading towards a tunnel. If he decided to ignore the polite tap then there's a good chance he would of been injured.

And he wasn't assaulted. Common law allows for individuals to use force to defend themselves or others. In this case I used force by grabbing and throwing him against him to protect him.

This was verified by the police who got involved, and my own standards manager after this chap tried to claim an assault.

Would I do it again - without a second thought.

 

[Deepgreen]

We get around 10 reports a day of such behaviour on our patch.

This is nothing new and some of the (mostly) youths are truly ignorant of the dangers around them. A programme of education (school talks, etc) is needed imo.

I doubt more seating would necessarily help tbh. Those spoken to weren't complaining about lack of seating, and this behaviour is mostly observed at quieter times of the day anyway.

This was at 0920ish on Friday, and there is no seating at all except for a four seater in the bus shelter on each platform. Bear in mind that this wasn't an aggressive 'yoof', but a very polite lad who wasn't being rebellious or disruptive - merely wanting to sit down. With a large number of passengers waiting in the peaks here, only a single four-seater bench in the shelter is woeful. People frequently just sit on the platform with their backs against the rear fence. I do believe some seating spread along the platforms here would help, and that's what I've suggested to GWR in my message to them. Aside from this specific safety issue, it's very poor that there aren't any seats as a basic passenger amenity at one of the busiest stations on the line anyway.

 

[Deepgreen]

Weren't as many people wearing headphones in the good old days but I wouldn't exactly say they were bastions of safety.

Very different times (and circumstances), and in this picture the train is clearly stationary, with the track walkers being enthusiasts who would have a far better grasp of the potential dangers. This scene looks like a last train/line closure excursion to me. The main difference is, I think, as you mention, the lack of headphones or other distractions.

 

[superkev]

I suppose in this age of "someone else's fault" when someone loses there legs the railway will get fined (see separate thread when DB just got fined when some trespassers fry themselves on the overhead).
The UK is to me being crippled by safety nannys and ambulance chasing lawyer's with ridiculous hair doos . End of moan.
K

 

[jon0844]

I doubt anyone would be able to successfully sue (note the word successfully, as anyone can sue anyone for anything) for having their legs taken off by a train.

I can see how someone might take to social media and play the victim and try and shift the blame (and get a bunch of people supporting them because it's quick to hit RT or share something), and maybe an apology from the PR team. This sort of thing probably does more harm these days than the ambulance chasers.

 

[bengley]

I was at Dorking Deepdene yesterday morning and this scene greeted me at the eastern end of the platforms. It was foggy and the youth was wearing earphones. He was engrossed in his music and his studying. The fog made it harder to see or hear any approaching trains. I had to shout very loudly about ten times to him from my platform before he responded, and I told him fairly bluntly that he had no chance of hearing a train and moving in time to avoid losing his legs quite messily. He seemed unaware of the danger, and quickly moved and apologised to me. It was clear that he did not anticipate any trains before his (due in a few minutes).

Another in the spate of platform edge sitting, and at this quite busy and very small station, the seating provision is severely lacking. While there is no excuse for this behaviour, the provision of plenty of seating would surely help to prevent it and at no great cost.

I'll be suggesting this to GWR, but, as they can't even manage/pay for the basics of keeping their trains up to anything like reasonable standards, I don't hold out much hope.

View attachment 53466

Stupidity aside, I must compliment you, for this is a great photograph. Well framed and beautiful depth.

 

[AlastairFraser]

I was at Dorking Deepdene yesterday morning and this scene greeted me at the eastern end of the platforms. It was foggy and the youth was wearing earphones. He was engrossed in his music and his studying. The fog made it harder to see or hear any approaching trains. I had to shout very loudly about ten times to him from my platform before he responded, and I told him fairly bluntly that he had no chance of hearing a train and moving in time to avoid losing his legs quite messily. He seemed unaware of the danger, and quickly moved and apologised to me. It was clear that he did not anticipate any trains before his (due in a few minutes).

Another in the spate of platform edge sitting, and at this quite busy and very small station, the seating provision is severely lacking. While there is no excuse for this behaviour, the provision of plenty of seating would surely help to prevent it and at no great cost.

I'll be suggesting this to GWR, but, as they can't even manage/pay for the basics of keeping their trains up to anything like reasonable standards, I don't hold out much hope.

View attachment 53466

This is a stupid and dangerous behaviour and he was very lucky that you warned him,but it would be helpful if GWR provided more seats and also extended the platforms,maybe for longer trains in the future.(I thought I heard GWR wanted to use the Class 769s on The North Downs Line eventually and I'm not sure a coupled set on a rush hour service of 2 Class 769s would fit on Dorking Deepdene's platforms.) I have got off there with a school geography class on the way to a fieldwork centre and on the way back to the station, we had to wait quite a long time and therefore bundled onto the platform,all 30 of us and the station was already quite busy so we all sat along the platform (fully behind the yellow line of course) A pipe dream for this line is for it to be third railed from Guildford to Gatwick Airport and SWR take over part of the all stopper service as an extension of the service to Guildford from London via Cobham,allowing GWR to run the 1 fast service through to Gatwick Airport using a 769 but this is a pipe dream for a reason . Other than that, I love the way the North Downs Line is run and I consider the c2c or gold standard operation of GWR's cross country regional routes(no offence to other routes) due to its reliability and general quick acceleration and average speed.

 

[greyman42]

I believe a particularly brutal fatality recently in the north of England was associated with two kids doing this. One survived and one was unfortunately destroyed by a train. Doesn't bear thinking about really.

I believe you are referring to the Chester-Le-Street incident.

 

[MichaelAMW]

I'm not sure you get this.

I walked out of the toilet, having route knowledge of the line realised that we were imminently approaching a tunnel where flailling like a moron would end at best with severe wall rash and at worst a decaptiation.

I didn't have time to explain the options to the idiot. I acted rapidly and after his complaint, well in accordance with what my TOC considers acceptable.

But I'm all ears. Please explain how reacting in a more mature civilazed manner would of prevented him from extreme risk of injury.

I think we all get this very well. Your particular use of language to describe the chap in question demonstrates your utter arrogance very clearly. You did assault him because you did far more than was required - you only needed to pull him in but in fact, as you describe, you threw him to the floor and shouted at him at length. That was excessive. Any force you might choose to use has to be proportionate and that, going by your description, was not.

 

[dcbwhaley]

Millennial-bashing again...

None of my millennial peers I would place as dim enough to try that, so it's anything but standard.

Reminds me of my 1920s-born Dad who used to tell me about clinging onto the backs of trams to save walking up hills (occasionally kicked off - literally - by the conductor) - older generations were just as bad in their youth...

Yeah. Grabbing a rope trailing behind a lorry to get a tow when cycling

 

[dcbwhaley]

At one time drivers would go to schools to talk to pupils about railway safety. Privatisation seems to have put an end to this

Twenty years ago, when my son was at primary school, they had visits from BT police to talk about rail safety. Quite a campaign really with badges and stickers and so on.

 

[MichaelAMW]

I'm not sure you get this.

I walked out of the toilet, having route knowledge of the line realised that we were imminently approaching a tunnel where flailling like a moron would end at best with severe wall rash and at worst a decaptiation.

I didn't have time to explain the options to the idiot. I acted rapidly and after his complaint, well in accordance with what my TOC considers acceptable.

But I'm all ears. Please explain how reacting in a more mature civilazed manner would of prevented him from extreme risk of injury.

Do you think your TOC considers it acceptable to throw someone to the floor who wasn't actually doing anything wrong? It's not against the byelaws to put your head out of the window - the signs don't even say "Danger" but only "Caution".

You, however, might have been, depending on what you said:

"No person shall use any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language on the railway."

 

[dcbwhaley]

Is it not?

Saving an idiot from himself made me rather proud - as at the length the moron was hanging out there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Unless you partake is said idiotic practices.......

Don't you all understand the basic idea of natural selection: survival of the fittest. These idiots are doing humanity a great favour by removing themselves from the gene pool.

 

[Clip]

I text the BTP last week for 2 teenagers walking up the track by squires gate - they then hid in the bushes when they heard the sirens but stupidly kept popping their heads out so easy to direct the police to them. Spoke to the guard and turns out they were delayed on the way updue to a person walking their dog on the track too. I was surprised when it turned out to be 2 girls who were doing the walking too.

 

[Clip]

Don't you all understand the basic idea of natural selection: survival of the fittest. These idiots are doing humanity a great favour by removing themselves from the gene pool.

Sadly they also could affect the health of others who would have to deal with the scraping up of their body parts too so whilst i think 142's actions were a little heavy handed they did do the right thing

 

[dcbwhaley]

This was at 0920ish on Friday, and there is no seating at all except for a four seater in the bus shelter on each platform. Bear in mind that this wasn't an aggressive 'yoof', but a very polite lad who wasn't being rebellious or disruptive - merely wanting to sit down. With a large number of passengers waiting in the peaks here, only a single four-seater bench in the shelter is woeful. People frequently just sit on the platform with their backs against the rear fence. I do believe some seating spread along the platforms here would help, and that's what I've suggested to GWR in my message to them. Aside from this specific safety issue, it's very poor that there aren't any seats as a basic passenger amenity at one of the busiest stations on the line anyway.

Lack of adequate seating in waiting areas is common to most forms of public transport. I suspect the planners are afraid that if they provide seats people might sit on them

 

[Craig2601]

Many rural stations in Scotland are guilty of having insufficient seating; especially after bagging a few Munro’s and walking many km’s, to find that at the station the very little seating has been taken! (Appreciate that the seating would only be needed for the fortnight or so that the weather is nice enough anyway . )

 

[Kite159]

Lack of adequate seating in waiting areas is common to most forms of public transport. I suspect the planners are afraid that if they provide seats people might sit on them

Or if they provide seats some locals will take offence and smash them up for kicks

 

[142Pilot]

I think we all get this very well. Your particular use of language to describe the chap in question demonstrates your utter arrogance very clearly. You did assault him because you did far more than was required - you only needed to pull him in but in fact, as you describe, you threw him to the floor and shouted at him at length. That was excessive. Any force you might choose to use has to be proportionate and that, going by your description, was not.

You best ring up the BTP then, as they looked at the incident and decided it wasn't an assault on the grounds of common law.

I mean I am assuming you are a barrister or lawyer of somesort, clearly the police are wrong, and my own TOC's standards department. Otherwise you're being extremely arrogant to think you know better than people paid to make such judgement.

And shouting at him, well I'll give you that one. Maybe it was the fear/adrenaline of nearly seeing some idiot mangle themselves against a tunnel that invoked that response.