Another safety incident involving West Coast Railway Company occurred on April 13.
According to a Network Rail log passed to RAIL by various sources, a charter from Bristol Temple Meads to West Brompton hauled by 47760 and 47580 stopped short halfway along a platform at Bath Spa station and on-train stewards opened the rear doors. Passengers started to board the train, which then began moving along the platform with the doors still open. The train then continued down the platform to the designated stopping point.
The log shows that the driver of the train is a Great Western Railway driver who was medically restricted by GWR but was on a rest day while working for WCR. Another WCR driver who was travelling on the train and was not implicated by the incident worked the train forward.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) confirmed to RAIL that it is investigating the incident. The regulator does not routinely investigate this type of incident, but is doing so in this case because of WCR’s recent history. At least two other similar incidents by other operators occurred on the network in the same week, so this type of incident is not uncommon.
- For more on this story see RAIL 799, on sale date April 27.
