Thameslink emergency stop at Belvedere - man on track

[allotments]

“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9744619/Heart-stopping-moment-drunk-man-stumbles-railway-tracks.html”

shocking video

 

[Aictos]

This is why Alcohol and Railways are not a good mix! He was lucky to not be a another fatality.

 

[zwk500]

The quotes from the guy who took the video are staggering. Thank goodness everybody was ok in the end.

 

[matt_world2004]

A drunk man shouting to himself and then jumping on the tracks.

This sounds like a person in some kind of mental distress probably exacerbated by intoxication.

 

[allotments]

Evidence if needed that intoxicated people should not be using the railway. I think Belvedere station is unstaffed at night.

I use Thameslink services to Slade Green regularly. These trains pass Belvedere non-stop.

A near miss on this occasion but extremely traumatic for all involved especially the train driver, the drunk man and the brave chap who nearly died attempting to help him.

 

[Dieseldriver]

Evidence if needed that intoxicated people should not be using the railway. I think Belvedere station is unstaffed at night.

So drunk people should be banned from public transport? Looks like I’ll be driving my car next time I go out for drinks then.

 

[ExRes]

A drunk man shouting to himself and then jumping on the tracks.

This sounds like a person in some kind of mental distress probably exacerbated by intoxication.

Why should 'mental distress' always be touted as some sort of reason, why not just 'intoxication'?

 

[AM9]

So drunk people should be banned from public transport? Looks like I’ll be driving my car next time I go out for drinks then.

That would be if you have a genuine need to get drunk of course, but then you would already have a bit of a problem.

Why should 'mental distress' always be touted as some sort of reason, why not just 'intoxication'?

Because many don't like to admit that alcohol alone impairs judgement and behaviour.

 

[zwk500]

That would be if you have a genuine need to get drunk of course, but then you would already have a bit of a problem.

Where does the line get drawn between having a drink and being drunk?

 

[43066]

So drunk people should be banned from public transport? Looks like I’ll be driving my car next time I go out for drinks then.

Indeed. There’s a bit merry after a few drinks - many evening and weekend passengers - and then there’s how the guy in that video was. Two separate things.

That would be if you have a genuine need to get drunk of course, but then you would already have a bit of a problem.

One of the big reasons for many people using public transport is that it gives the freedom (remember that?) to have a few drinks and let their hair down.

Obviously if someone is intoxicated to the point where they can no longer use public transport without endangering themselves and others that’s a different matter, but bylaws already deal with that.

 

[Dieseldriver]

That would be if you have a genuine need to get drunk of course, but then you would already have a bit of a problem.


Because many don't like to admit that alcohol alone impairs judgement and behaviour.

How about a genuine need to socialise and have a good time? Most ‘intoxicated’ people cause no problems, they are just using the train to get back home a little worse for wear. For someone to suggest banning any intoxicated people after seeing a video of one person in drink fall off a station platform whilst causing a scene is ridiculous.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

So drunk people should be banned from public transport? Looks like I’ll be driving my car next time I go out for drinks then.

There is a difference between having had a few drinks and being drunk. When I was in my teens, the prevailing culture was that you should learn how "to hold your liquor" and not become drunk. It seems today many people think it's clever to be paralytic.

 

[AM9]

Where does the line get drawn between having a drink and being drunk?

In terms of defining 'drunk' then I would see that as the loss of responsible thinking and normal physical control. My post #7 was referring to the need to drink, i.e. not to prevent thirst and/or dehydration but because of an uncontrolled habit or slightly worse, an addictive dependency.

 

[Aictos]

A drunk man shouting to himself and then jumping on the tracks.

This sounds like a person in some kind of mental distress probably exacerbated by intoxication.

I disagree, people in such a state have no control over their actions and is a result of them being in a drunken state, it doesn't automatically qualify them to be suffering from a mental illness.

In this case, his actions were amplified by the condition he was in eg he was drunk as he had drunk more then he was capable of having.

There is a difference between drinking responsibly eg pacing yourself between each drink and knowing what your limits are to being ill responsible and trying to outdo everyone else by excessive boozing.

 

[FireCheetah]

A near miss on this occasion but extremely traumatic for all involved especially the train driver, the drunk man and the brave chap who nearly died attempting to help him.

Those were exactly my thoughts.

In my ideal world, there would be platform-edge doors everywhere to keep unauthorised people off the tracks. However, back in the real world, the costs would be prohibitive, and such money could be spent on other railway projects.

 

[matt_world2004]

Why should 'mental distress' always be touted as some sort of reason, why not just 'intoxication'?

He doesn't seem like he has gotten on the tracks for a drunken bet. But someone who is angry at himself and life. or to cros

Now that could possibly be caused by intoxication on its own but quite likely that intoxication is a symptom of a wider problem rather than the cause

 

[43066]

He doesn't seem like he has gotten on the tracks for a drunken bet. But someone who is angry at himself and life. or to cros

Now that could possibly be caused by intoxication on its own but quite likely that intoxication is a symptom of a wider problem rather than the cause

People who jump (and mean it) don’t do so thirty seconds before the train arrives, and then role under the platform to get out of the way. Often they aren’t intoxicated at all. That’s a whole other subject.

This looks like drunken hubris gone wrong. I hope he got a night in the cells and now has a court appearance to look forward to.

 

[ScotGG]

SE Metro station = no barriers and unstaffed most of all day despite being busy.

No on-board staff on trains either.

 

[AlterEgo]

Well I’ve seen a lot of near miss videos in my time but that one was quite something. Bloody hell. Hope the driver is okay, he must have felt certain to have hit him.

 

[londonteacher]

So drunk people should be banned from public transport? Looks like I’ll be driving my car next time I go out for drinks then.

If people get so drunk they can't look after themselves then get a cab as it would be less dangerous.

A train is not the place for someone who can't look after themselves due to alcohol consumption.

 

[Merseysider]

Where does the line get drawn between having a drink and being drunk?

Merseyrail approach seems to be the right one.

Drunk/tipsy but no evident danger to yourself or others: allowed on.

Staggering all over the place, vomiting or abusive drunks can find themselves refused entry at Liverpool.

That would of course rely on the stations being barriered and staffed, which isn’t the case across much of the country.

 

[jopsuk]

Evidence if needed that intoxicated people should not be using the railway. I think Belvedere station is unstaffed at night.

how on earth would you stop a drunk person accessing open platforms at an unstaffed (at the time) station? Get real

 

[the sniper]

Near misses don't get much nearer than that! I wonder how close the white shirted guy's head actually came to the front corner of the unit...

Seems like they both sobered up pretty quickly as they figured out the 'safest' way out of the situation in the few moments they had!

 

[mmh]

If people get so drunk they can't look after themselves then get a cab as it would be less dangerous.

A train is not the place for someone who can't look after themselves due to alcohol consumption.

You think he'd have not been a problem in a taxi? Every taxi driver I've ever known would have refused to take him, and they'd be perfectly right not to? The only sensible way for him to get home would be walking, or in a police car. They're paid to deal with problems like this, taxi drivers (and all other public transport workers) are not.

 

[londonteacher]

You think he'd have not been a problem in a taxi? Every taxi driver I've ever known would have refused to take him, and they'd be perfectly right not to? The only sensible way for him to get home would be walking, or in a police car. They're paid to deal with problems like this, taxi drivers (and all other public transport workers) are not.

That's true!

The railway is definitely not a place for someone who can't control themselves due to intoxication.

 

[LAX54]

Sadly such events are almost an everyday happening even at 6 and 7 in the morning you can get them !

 

[island]

So drunk people should be banned from public transport? Looks like I’ll be driving my car next time I go out for drinks then.

They already are (byelaw 4.1).

 

[Need2]

They already are (byelaw 4.1).

It’s also illegal to knowingly sell alcohol to somebody who is drunk, try enforcing either!
You can’t even make ‘passengers’ buy a ticket!

 

[Gostav]

Sadly such events are almost an everyday happening even at 6 and 7 in the morning you can get them !

In Russia they ban alcohol sale between 11:00 PM to next day 8:00 AM and l'm not sure if sale alcohol in morning also is banned in the UK.

 

[zwk500]

In Russia they ban alcohol sale between 11:00 PM to next day 8:00 AM and l'm not sure if sale alcohol in morning also is banned in the UK.

From shops it isn't banned at all. You can very easily get a case of high-strength lager or bottles of spirits from 24-hour supermarkets. No idea if it's banned generally for licensed premises between certain times, although I'm fairly sure individual licenses DO contain restrictions if the licensing authority wishes.

And as Need2 mentioned, it's one thing having a law. It's a completely different thing enforcing said law when the only practical enforcement is to have somebody sit in the bar watching who gets served.