I was traveling from Rugby today and a passenger on their phone would not heed any warnings to step back from the platform edge (including a toot from the train driver as they pulled into the station). Station staff made about 5 announcements over the PA which were also ignored. Was there any other way this could have been escalated or do we just have to accept that some people have no awareness of their own safety? I imagine BTP are too busy to attend "passenger being an idiot" incidents.
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What powers do station staff have to enforce safety rules?
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RailUK Forums
The ultimate sanction is that they can refuse people travel, instruct them to leave, call the BTP if they refuse (remaining on railway property once asked to leave by a member of staff is railway trespass, a criminal offence).
This is done rarely in practice, because it’s generally a lot more trouble than it’s worth. It’s generally reserved for people who are paralytic on whatever substance, and/or being threatening/abusive.
This is done rarely in practice, because it’s generally a lot more trouble than it’s worth. It’s generally reserved for people who are paralytic on whatever substance, and/or being threatening/abusive.
In theory staff could have approached the individual directly rather than just making PA announcements, but they have to weigh up the risk of doing so at a station with lots of 125mph trains and heavy freight passing through platforms on a regular basis. There is also a risk of the person kicking off at being told what to do. At MKC staff are very vocal at platform level about standing back.
In this case I don't think the train could have stopped in time as they were near the end of the platform. Hard to say how far back the driver saw them.
In theory, yes. The driver is absolutely allowed to stop short of anything that might be in danger, or put their train in danger, and to wait until the situation is resolved. Whether they'd see the person in time to stop is another question.
DelW
Established Member
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I assume that this instance was a stopping train, but Rugby is a particularly dangerous location to act like that, as through trains use some platform tracks at high speed. I think I've read on here that 125mph through the station is permitted, certainly when I went through platform 4 on the up fast line on a train from Glasgow last week we barely seemed to slow at all.
hexagon789
Veteran Member
The Platform 4 line is indeed the full 125 - 100/EPS 125
If you're certain the person in question is at immediate risk of harm then within the law you're entitled to intervene, IE physically pull them back from the platform edge.
You shouldn't however put yourself at risk of being pulled over and under a train with them so as with all such situations, it is basically a judgement call.
You shouldn't however put yourself at risk of being pulled over and under a train with them so as with all such situations, it is basically a judgement call.
This appears to be post no. 7000 of @LowLevel.
Can I just thank him for his many thoughtful and informative posts on here?
(I think I just have)
Well thank you. I appreciate the meeting of minds that occurs on this forum from different walks of life and whilst this is actually my second persona on here over the life of the page, I am pleased that people appreciate my musings and contributions. Sometimes my heart rules my head but I genuinely love the railways and my role within them.
Yes. Certainly also within their remit to refuse to work a train with a particular passenger aboard. I’ve done it a couple of times for people who were too drunk to stand, let alone travel, yet platform staff were trying to get them onto the train I was about to work.
Again, not something anyone would ever do lightly.
Yes, a thoroughly sensible poster.
You can be my tail gunner anytime, chap. Tea will be white without, please, thank you kindly. How quickly do you like your two on the bell back? Agree stops etc.
Be warned: I drive pretty bloody quickly, compared to what you’re used to
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Without wishing to upset the admin team by going too far off-topic I have a special interest in your neck of the woods as (now many years ago) I enjoyed the title of Depot Editor for Nottingham at the Crewe diagramming office when it was a Central depot and I'd wrestle with the complications of "natives", ex-Derby staff, and marrying up Skegness and Matlock (a definite NO at the time).
Happy days.
TreacleMiller
Member
That's done when there's a suicidal person, or someone who has threatened it as a "Get out" - it does happen.
Signallers can be told about platform over crowding and caution trains down.
As a drive my eyes are on the platform edge if I'm flying through and the number of people who are happy to be within 2/3ft of a 125mph train is insane.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Yes. I'm gateline at a station and a few weeks ago when I was waiting for a train (in uniform) at another station I politely asked an e-scooter user to step off it.
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