East Coast emergency stop video

People panic and do pull the cord occasionally when they miss their stop. Their impression of an emergency might not line up with the railway's (IE 'oh my god, the train's pulling out, I'm going to be late for work' etc). It's generally appropriate to offer some stern words of advice and let them be on their way rather than delay things further. It's impossible to detain them anyway unless you're lucky enough to have some there by coincidence and the more malicious ones will generally run off anyway.

It's best not to let it bother you and just get things moving again asap.

I have pressed the emergency alarm twice in the last 12 months after being UNABLE to alight from the same service at the same station. Once due to an RPI trying to check tickets as people were leaving the train and the guard presuming that everyone had alighted after no one exiting for 2 seconds . and once because the guard gave less than 15 seconds for 25-30 people to alight the train before locking the doors.

I think the use of the door release is more serious than the alarm, where the man could gave waited to tell staff he needed to get off.

After watching the first 2 minutes, I'd assumed that the issue was that the driver had overshot by at least a coach-length.

You've got to watch you don't libel or defame this guy...

So is this a well known thing, then? Oil rig workers making a nuisance of themselves?

Are they beyond a telling off or something?

WillPS said:

So is this a well known thing, then? Oil rig workers making a nuisance of themselves?

Are they beyond a telling off or something?

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Rig workers have a tendency to be extremely big, hairy, capable of staring death in the face then kicking death's ass, and are forced to go without drink for weeks at a time. They also have a somewhat legendary capacity for drinking once back on terra firma. They are also mostly a great bunch of guys, the sort you'd want on your side when the apocalypse arrives, it's just their ideas of relaxation after a few weeks in the middle of the North Sea can be deemed slightly offensive to ordinary folks.



Rig worker is one of the most demanding and dangerous occupations out there, in what can be the world's least hospitable environment. It takes a special kind of person to do that work.

Murph said:

Rig workers have a tendency to be extremely big, hairy, capable of staring death in the face then kicking death's ass, and are forced to go without drink for weeks at a time. They also have a somewhat legendary capacity for drinking once back on terra firma. They are also mostly a great bunch of guys, the sort you'd want on your side when the apocalypse arrives, it's just their ideas of relaxation after a few weeks in the middle of the North Sea can be deemed slightly offensive to ordinary folks.



Rig worker is one of the most demanding and dangerous occupations out there, in what can be the world's least hospitable environment. It takes a special kind of person to do that work.

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So wouldn't it be better for their bosses to allow them to have a few beers on the oil rigs of an evening, so they don't binge?

34D said:

So wouldn't it be better for their bosses to allow them to have a few beers on the oil rigs of an evening, so they don't binge?

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It's a safety thing, zero tolerance for smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc, on the rigs. They are effectively working, eating, and sleeping on/inside a giant bomb!

If, as the rail industry has taught me, being on a train beyond the validity of my ticket is worthy of a day in court and a criminal record, then I'd consider my inability to alight as an emergency.

big_dirt said:

If, as the rail industry has taught me, being on a train beyond the validity of my ticket is worthy of a day in court and a criminal record, then I'd consider my inability to alight as an emergency.

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As it would be accidental, it would merely be a Byelaw offence, so not recordable, but it's still a 'strict liability' criminal offence so I certainly note your point: the rail industry cannot have it 'both ways'. The good news is that the appalling Byelaws in question are very rarely actually implemented 'to the letter' by the vast majority of, far more sensible, staff 'on the ground' so to speak.

A very well respected member of rail staff stated very early on in this thread that it is " due cause" to pull the cord when "the train had missed a booked stop". That's not quite the same thing as someone preventing you exiting, but if someone has been physically prevented from exiting by selfish individuals then, I can understand that some people would do it.
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34D said:

So wouldn't it be better for their bosses to allow them to have a few beers on the oil rigs of an evening, so they don't binge?

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No. Apart from the reasons against it already stated, if they're incapable of avoiding binging the instant they get off the oil rig, then I would say the person responsible has 'issues' and they need to seek help for that. I just cannot understand the mentality of anyone who immediately starts drinking early in the morning and drinks throughout the day. If one of those louts has impended the passenger getting off then I do feel sorry for him.

I personally would have just carried on to the next stop and doubled-back; this has happened to me at least twice (Oldham Werneth to Mumps and Doncaster to Peterborough) but I can understand why people would see being over-carried to a city nearly 50 miles away as being an 'emergency' - it is to them, albeit not to the railway. If they understood the possible implications I am sure many of them would not do it though!

If the Rig Workers were intimidating the guy who was being prevented from alighting the train maybe he pulled the chord because he was in fear of his own safety. Just a thought

34D said:

After watching the first 2 minutes, I'd assumed that the issue was that the driver had overshot by at least a coach-length.

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No danger of that beyond the front of that train there would be room for at least another four coaches. Darlington's platforms are very long you could probably get close to fitting two full EC rakes on platforms one and four.

Message from EastCoasts website. Wonder if it is a direct consequence of this incident or are Aberdeen playing in Edinburgh today.

The 09.52 service on Friday 27 September from Aberdeen, will be an alcohol free train until it reaches Newcastle. This means you will not be able to bring alcohol in any form, onto the train, or consume it whilst on board. We won’t be selling alcohol at our CafeBAR, though other hot and cold refreshments will still be available as usual.


Unfortunately we’ve introduced this policy due to some recent anti-social behaviour on this service, to ensure that all of our customers can enjoy a more pleasant journey. On the day the British Transport Police, will be enforcing this alcohol ban at the station(s) and on board the train.


East Coast have prohibited the possession of intoxicating liquor from the above mentioned train services on Friday 27 September 2013.


It is an offence under Byelaw 4(2) of the Railway Byelaws, for any person travelling on the services listed above to be in possession of intoxicating liquor or to attempt to enter any of the above trains with intoxicating liquor.

These changes are reflected in the timetables when planning your journey or booking your ticket using the online booking engine

Last updated: 22/07/2013

thetangoman said:

Message from EastCoasts website. Wonder if it is a direct consequence of this incident or are Aberdeen playing in Edinburgh today.

The 09.52 service on Friday 27 September from Aberdeen, will be an alcohol free train until it reaches Newcastle. This means you will not be able to bring alcohol in any form, onto the train, or consume it whilst on board. We won’t be selling alcohol at our CafeBAR, though other hot and cold refreshments will still be available as usual.


Unfortunately we’ve introduced this policy due to some recent anti-social behaviour on this service, to ensure that all of our customers can enjoy a more pleasant journey. On the day the British Transport Police, will be enforcing this alcohol ban at the station(s) and on board the train.


East Coast have prohibited the possession of intoxicating liquor from the above mentioned train services on Friday 27 September 2013.


It is an offence under Byelaw 4(2) of the Railway Byelaws, for any person travelling on the services listed above to be in possession of intoxicating liquor or to attempt to enter any of the above trains with intoxicating liquor.

These changes are reflected in the timetables when planning your journey or booking your ticket using the online booking engine

Last updated: 22/07/2013

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I believe they are trialling it.

The guy the train was on also wasn't the train from Aberdeen - he appeared to be on the next train from Edinburgh.