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Passenger jumped onto tracks...

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Matt_pool

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...from the 21.55 LIV to MCO on 15/02/20.

It happened just before Mossley Hill station:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y27587/2020-02-15

A male passenger had already pulled the emergency chord, and once the train stopped, just outside of Mossley Hill station, a further altercation occured and the passenger somehow opened the door of the 150 and jumped onto the tracks.

The train - which I was on and I also witnessed some of the altercation - then pulled forward into Mossely Hill station, and after a few minutes I got off. I was only going to the next stop (West Allerton), but most people on the train were going beyond the Merseyside area to Warrington and Manchester.

Lots of police soon attended, included dogs.

Thank goodness I live locally and could get a bus home, but what of the other passengers? I have no idea how they made it home. If that had happened somewhere more remote even I wouldn't have been able to alight the train and I, along with the other passengers, would have been stuck there for a very long time!

I expected that the local rag, the Liverpool Echo, would have already picked up on this story; but they are more interested in a story about a Z list celebrity at the moment!

I feel sorry for the train crew who had to deal with this situation, especially the guard who couldn't have prevented this stupid eejit from jumping onto the tracks.
 
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tpjm

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Nothing more on Northern’s Tyrell than:

2O99 21:55 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road due 23:14 is being delayed at Mossley Hill.

This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on a train.
 

HOOVER29

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When I was last at Tamworth (18th December 2019) doing photography there was a chap walking along platform 3. He wanted platform 2 but was unsure of the layout.

Rather than use the stairs he only went & threw his two suitcases onto the track & walked across the lines to platform 4 right in front of me & this other chap.

At Tamworth there must’ve been a rise in anti social behaviour as they now employ security to walk about the station. The two burly security guys grabbed the trespasser & yanked him up into a heap on the platform.

Within seconds every staff member on the station had appeared telling him that he was an idiot. 10 mins later the BTP turned up & carted him off. 4 mins after the line was cleared a cross country voyager shot through at speed.
 
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C J Snarzell

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Ridiculous situation.

The most important thing in any of this is that no one came to any harm.
 
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yorkie

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...at Tamworth there must’ve been a rise in anti social behaviour as they now employ security to walk about the station...
Are you sure there must have been? I thought those staff, which are at various WCML stations and not just Tamworth, were brought in primarily to try to reduce suicides, though obviously they would be able to deal with antisocial behaviour too. That's my understanding based on what several people have said, though my understanding could be wrong.
 
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When I was last at Tamworth (18th December 2019) doing photography there was a chap walking along platform 3. He wanted platform 2 but was unsure of the layout.

Rather than use the stairs he only went & threw his two suitcases onto the track & walked across the lines to platform 4 right in front of me & this other chap.

I once witnessed the exact same thing at Taunton. Guy couldn't be bothered to go down into the subway to get to platform 4 so he simply jumped down the platform and walked across the tracks. The idiocy of some people is truly astounding. I noticed platform staff having a stern word with him, but I don't think it caused any disruption, it was over in a matter of seconds after all.
 

Sprinter107

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It's getting more and more common. In my job, I witness it very often. The misuse of emergency door egress handles, while not a daily occurrence, is happening a lot more often.
 

221129

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Are you sure there must have been? I thought those staff, which are at various WCML stations and not just Tamworth, were brought in primarily to try to reduce suicides, though obviously they would be able to deal with antisocial behaviour too. That's my understanding based on what several people have said, though my understanding could be wrong.
No these are proper security due to the local scrotes.
 

gazzaa2

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Did the next service run (23.34 I think the last train)?

The passengers would either had to go back to Lime St or make it to South Parkway via bus or taxi to get back home via another service to Manchester.

Saturday night trains are full of drunks.
 

philthetube

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Has anyone ever been sued for costs by either network rail or a toc. Some of these scroats must have money?
 

Saperstein

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Did the next service run (23.34 I think the last train)?

There was 2M90 2338 Liverpool Lime Street [LIV] to Manchester Piccadilly [MAN] which ran.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y21708/2020-02-15/detailed

Started loosing time around Wavertree Junction apparently.

Then called:

Mossley Hill [MSH] 2349 2L - Platform 3
West Allerton [WSA] 2351 2L - Platform 3

Both platform numbers shown in red, does this mean they weren’t the normal platform numbers changed because of the incident?

Service then started to gradually loose more time between Halewood [HED] and MAN and arrived into MAN 20L at 0058.[/QUOTE]

The passengers would either had to go back to Lime St or make it to South Parkway via bus or taxi to get back home via another service to Manchester.

It looked like the later service called so hopefully they were ok.

Saturday night trains are full of drunks.

But not every “drunk” causes trouble. In fact it’s only the odd idiot. Please don’t tar all drinkers with your drunken hooligan brush.

Saperstein.
 
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Bletchleyite

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I once witnessed the exact same thing at Taunton. Guy couldn't be bothered to go down into the subway to get to platform 4 so he simply jumped down the platform and walked across the tracks. The idiocy of some people is truly astounding. I noticed platform staff having a stern word with him, but I don't think it caused any disruption, it was over in a matter of seconds after all.

We say "idiocy" but there are plenty of places where it is perfectly normal practice e.g. much of eastern Europe. It does strike me that more signage clearly prohibiting it may be sensible.
 

Saperstein

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We say "idiocy" but there are plenty of places where it is perfectly normal practice e.g. much of eastern Europe. It does strike me that more signage clearly prohibiting it may be sensible.

And a few in the UK, obviously not on high speed lines though!

I’m sure there’s a foot crossing (or was?) at Selby.

The most shocking behaviour I’ve seen (no pun intended) has been people thinking it’s ok to nip across the line in 3rd rail electrified areas!

Saperstein.
 

Dr_Paul

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The most shocking behaviour I’ve seen (no pun intended) has been people thinking it’s ok to nip across the line in 3rd rail electrified areas! Saperstein.

I was at Tulse Hill on the island platform one afternoon when a bloke jumped down onto the track and crossed to the up platform to help his pal there who was arguing with a member of staff. Fortunately, there was no train approaching on either line; he didn't look up or down the line to check, he just jumped down. From the way the two blokes were talking, I think they had mental health problems, although the one who crossed the line was sufficiently aware and avoided stepping on the conductor rails. When he jumped down, I had an awful feeling that he might step on the conductor rail.

When I was young, a pal of mine used to nip through a gate on Church Road leading to the goods-yard at Richmond and cross the track, to save all of a couple of minutes on the walk home to his house. He would have crossed at least four electrified tracks.
 

mmh

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When I was young, a pal of mine used to nip through a gate on Church Road leading to the goods-yard at Richmond and cross the track, to save all of a couple of minutes on the walk home to his house. He would have crossed at least four electrified tracks.

Not electrified, but when I was young a daft one where the fence was always ripped back was underneath the road bridge before Llandudno station. As it was under a bridge, it saved seconds, if that. Probably a negative time, as one side would take you out into a small industrial area you'd need to walk through to get to, err, the other end of the bridge. I think it was more because you shouldn't than a time saver.
 

Steve Harris

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We say "idiocy" but there are plenty of places where it is perfectly normal practice e.g. much of eastern Europe. It does strike me that more signage clearly prohibiting it may be sensible.
Or dare I say it... Education !! When in another country you may not be able to do what you can do in your own home country !!

Oh hang on... some English people expect locals in other countries to speak English !! Doh.
 

gazzaa2

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It looked like the later service called so hopefully they were ok.

An hour and a half a long time to wait in those weather conditions though.


But not every “drunk” causes trouble. In fact it’s only the odd idiot. Please don’t tar all drinkers with your drunken hooligan brush.

Saperstein.

Don't get me wrong i've regularly got this train on a Saturday (or the last train the 23:38) and, yes, it's full of drunks (and I can include myself). I've rarely seen any problems though, barring the odd football related incident which the police were on top of.
 

Starmill

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We say "idiocy" but there are plenty of places where it is perfectly normal practice e.g. much of eastern Europe. It does strike me that more signage clearly prohibiting it may be sensible.
There was a lot of good historic signage that said things like "Passengers must not cross the tracks, except by means of the [footbridge] [underpass].", but these have never really made it onto modern signage. I've thought for a long while that the industry would do really well if they adopted standard format welcome posters that look the same everywhere except for one corner onto which TOC logos can go. This warning could be included on them.
 

Sprinter107

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I think the problem is now that on certain stations, there is so much clutter at the ends of the platforms, with multiple car stop boards, and other warnings, a DO NOT CROSS THE LINE notice may not stand out like it should.
 

Saperstein

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Yes, I’ve noticed in third rail areas the “passengers must not cross the line” sign in a small squares the the very end of the platform, often joined by the “Danger do not touch the live rail” of the same size and often long after stop boards depending on the size of the station and not readable from most of the station.

In the midlands/north of England I’ve seen large “do not cross the tracks” on the actual opposite platform face below the actual platform if that makes sense, though I can’t remember exactly where.

Incidentally, at Chester Platform 7, I noticed the other day, new plastic signs tied to the gantry every so often with plastic ties opposite the platform warning “do not touch the live rail” with the Electric sign.

Of course platform 7 is the only electrified platform at Chester and the conductor rail is also boarded.

Saperstein
 

daveshah

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There was a lot of good historic signage that said things like "Passengers must not cross the tracks, except by means of the [footbridge] [underpass].", but these have never really made it onto modern signage. I've thought for a long while that the industry would do really well if they adopted standard format welcome posters that look the same everywhere except for one corner onto which TOC logos can go. This warning could be included on them.

A remaining example at Brentford, in need of a plate covering the "L&" to bring it up to date!

Sign saying
L&SWR
PASSENGERS
MUST CROSS LINE
BY BRIDGE
 

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Bletchleyite

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In the midlands/north of England I’ve seen large “do not cross the tracks” on the actual opposite platform face below the actual platform if that makes sense, though I can’t remember exactly where.

Yes, I've seen a station with those but I too can't recall where. I am of the view that with increased travel to the UK from countries where this is acceptable practice that it would be sensible for all stations to have such signs, and in some cases, where viable, to even consider the practice you sometimes see in Germany and Switzerland of just shoving a large fence down the middle of the 6-foot thus physically preventing anyone from crossing. (This is also done sometimes on roads to encourage underpass use, e.g. by MK Hospital).

Edit: it's not Brum International, is it? An airport station would be a logical place to have it, though barring platform alterations it isn't really a station where you would end up on the wrong one in the first place.
 

Spartacus

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I once witnessed the exact same thing at Taunton. Guy couldn't be bothered to go down into the subway to get to platform 4 so he simply jumped down the platform and walked across the tracks. The idiocy of some people is truly astounding. I noticed platform staff having a stern word with him, but I don't think it caused any disruption, it was over in a matter of seconds after all.

Exact same thing at Mirfield the other day. Passenger stood on platform 2 saw their friend over on platform 3 and decided to go see them by crossing the tracks rather than by the subway. Sadly a fast approaching 185 (which would have been visible when she took the fateful last step had she have looked) meant she never made it past the first rail. I can't help but feel that, regardless of trespass laws, following the green cross code would have prevented this tragedy.

In the midlands/north of England I’ve seen large “do not cross the tracks” on the actual opposite platform face below the actual platform if that makes sense, though I can’t remember exactly where.
Saperstein

Leeds has many of these. I've still witnessed passengers, in the middle of the day, not under the influence, and without the excuse of 'it's allowed where I come from' take a shortcut across the tracks, usually without looking both ways, and one who was lucky not to be hit himself, though the BTP dealt with that one.
 

Saperstein

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Yes, I've seen a station with those but I too can't recall where. I am of the view that with increased travel to the UK from countries where this is acceptable practice that it would be sensible for all stations to have such signs, and in some cases, where viable, to even consider the practice you sometimes see in Germany and Switzerland of just shoving a large fence down the middle of the 6-foot thus physically preventing anyone from crossing. (This is also done sometimes on roads to encourage underpass use, e.g. by MK Hospital).

Edit: it's not Brum International, is it? An airport station would be a logical place to have it, though barring platform alterations it isn't really a station where you would end up on the wrong one in the first place.

Don’t remember even having stepped foot on Brum International platforms TBH, though I’ve often passed through.

I’ve been to New Street a few times and as another poster mentioned Leads.

Though I’ve got it in the back of my mind it was an un-electrified station where I saw it.

Perhaps Hull? Or maybe somewhere in northern Scotland?

I hate it when I can’t remember lol

Saperstein
 

Kite159

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Why do I picture the person who pulled the cord and jumped out of the train as someone who didn't have a ticket and pulled that trick when asked by either the guard or an assistant ticket examiner for said ticket?

-----

@Saperstein maybe you are thinking of Aston with the large "do not cross the tracks" signs?
 

Bletchleyite

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Don’t remember even having stepped foot on Brum International platforms TBH, though I’ve often passed through.

I’ve been to New Street a few times and as another poster mentioned Leads.

Though I’ve got it in the back of my mind it was an un-electrified station where I saw it.

Now I've heard mention of Leeds I'm pretty certain it is there I saw it.
 

mmh

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A sign telling someone not to cross the tracks isn't going to stop them any more than the sign on the train saying the alarm and door open handles are for emergency use only stopped the passenger from using them.

The obvious clues telling someone used to crossing the tracks that it's not done here are that nobody else is doing so, the presence of bridges and subways, and not least the height of the platforms and lack of walking routes across the tracks.
 

Bletchleyite

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A sign telling someone not to cross the tracks isn't going to stop them any more than the sign on the train saying the alarm and door open handles are for emergency use only stopped the passenger from using them.

Tell that to those who installed signs at many European stations as the practice has become deprecated in western Europe (due to higher speeds, mainly), then.
 
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