c2c driver dies while driving train

A c2c driver died after falling ill while driving the 2013 Grays-Barking on April 25.

Steve Jones (56) fell ill at around 2030. The train’s safety system brought the service to a stop, at which point all trains were halted while the signaller contacted the driver.

As the signaller was unable to raise a response, the next train passing in the opposite direction stopped to provide assistance. An ambulance was called, along with the British Transport Police.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance fought to save the driver, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jones was based at East Ham. He had been a driver since 1980, and had worked on the railway for around 40 years. He had recently passed a medical, which c2c said is carried out every five years.

The day after the incident, c2c delivery director Kevin Frazer said: “The thoughts of all of Steve’s colleagues and friends at c2c are with his family at this difficult time. Thank you to all our passengers for their understanding while we helped support the ambulance service and British Transport Police in their efforts.

“Every c2c train is designed with a safety system to manage these specific situations, and last night it operated exactly as intended. The train was brought to a controlled stop within seconds and there was absolutely no danger to passengers at any stage.”