Train firm fined £75k over 700 trapped passengers on service from Brighton
Thameslink operator First Capital Connect has been fined £75,000 after about 700 passengers became trapped on a broken down train from Brighton to Bedford.
The train company was taken to court by the official safety watchdog the Office of Rail Regulation yesterday (Monday 16 September).
The company admitted failing to protect safety of passengers on the train which broke down during the evening rush hour at Dock Junction, London, on 26 May 2011.
Passengers were stranded for about three hours between St Pancras International and Kentish Town Station in North London.
The regulator told Blackfriars Crown Court that the company had not adequately planned its response to deal with stranded trains. Nor did it provide those on board with accurate information, working ventilation or toilets.
Passengers were forced to call National Rail Enquiries for updates and throughout three hours they were repeatedly told that a rescue train would be arriving in ten minutes.
David Statham
The regulator said: “Inaccurate passenger information updates and poor conditions on board resulted in many passengers opening the doors and leaving the train.
“The risk of passengers taking independent action to leave the train in conditions such as these had already been recognised by the rail industry.
“First Capital Connect failed to act on relevant guidance developed after previous incidents of stranded trains.
“First Capital Connect pleaded guilty today to a charge under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.”
Ian Prosser, the regulator’s director of safety, said: “ORR’s investigation into First Capital Connect’s response to a broken down train in North London highlighted that passengers were treated with a distinct lack of care, as the company committed a catalogue of errors.
“The company left hundreds of passengers trapped on a train for three hours with no air conditioning, toilets or communication system.
“The company’s response significantly increased the risk of passengers independently leaving the train on to the tracks, when the safest place for them was to stay on board until told otherwise.
“Since the incident, First Capital Connect has taken steps to rectify their management of similar situations.
“ORR is monitoring the company and will not hesitate to take action to ensure passengers are not placed in such a position again.
“Accurate and timely passenger information is essential not only for those planning journeys, but as this incident demonstrates, is critical for the safe running of the railways.”
The company was ordered to pay costs of £27,718 in addition to the £75,000 fine.
David Statham, First Capital Connect Managing Director said: “The safety of our passengers is our top priority and we deeply regret what happened back in May 2011.
“We didn’t live up to our own high standards in the way we handled this event which is why we took quick and decisive action afterwards.
“We commissioned comprehensive internal and external investigations that led to a range of actions to ensure this unusual combination of events is extremely unlikely to happen again.
“The safest place for passengers while a controlled evacuation or rescue is being arranged is on the train and we have new processes, techniques and equipment to speed the process whenever possible and to make it more comfortable for those on board.
“We will reflect on the comments made by the judge in court today and ensure they are incorporated in our ongoing process of learning from this incident.
“We would like to apologise once again to all those affected.”
The incident was subject to a Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigation, this is available to read online at http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2012/report072012.cfm.
