I shall look forward with great interest to the RAIB inquiry.
As a railwayman of more than 53 years experience, here is my five peneth worth:-
It is totally, completely and utterly unreasonable to expect what must have been around 300 people to remain trapped in a crush loaded train without heating, lighting and toilet facilities in the prevailing weather conditions for more than 30 minutes. It's just not going to happen - especially when so close to a station.
NR and TOC staff are co-located in control offices - think it's Friars Bridge Court for Lewisham - they should have been able to risk assess the situation and realise that a controlled walking pace progress by the train in to the platform to allow detrainment was a much lower risk course of action than leaving it within a short distance of passenger perceived safety and alternative ways to their destinations.
I don't accept the "it's more than my job's worth" comments from some on here when talking about the Rule Book, clearly it was an exceptional, emergency, situation and sensible risk assessments would have resulted in a much safer situation. Perhaps the Managers on duty need some additional training?
For what it's worth, I progressed through the ranks of the Engineering departments to the point I was a Competent Independent Person under ROGS and a Principle Conformance Engineer under CSM, so I know a thing or two about Risk Assessment.
As a railwayman of more than 53 years experience, here is my five peneth worth:-
It is totally, completely and utterly unreasonable to expect what must have been around 300 people to remain trapped in a crush loaded train without heating, lighting and toilet facilities in the prevailing weather conditions for more than 30 minutes. It's just not going to happen - especially when so close to a station.
NR and TOC staff are co-located in control offices - think it's Friars Bridge Court for Lewisham - they should have been able to risk assess the situation and realise that a controlled walking pace progress by the train in to the platform to allow detrainment was a much lower risk course of action than leaving it within a short distance of passenger perceived safety and alternative ways to their destinations.
I don't accept the "it's more than my job's worth" comments from some on here when talking about the Rule Book, clearly it was an exceptional, emergency, situation and sensible risk assessments would have resulted in a much safer situation. Perhaps the Managers on duty need some additional training?
For what it's worth, I progressed through the ranks of the Engineering departments to the point I was a Competent Independent Person under ROGS and a Principle Conformance Engineer under CSM, so I know a thing or two about Risk Assessment.