Sadly there was yet another person hit by a train at Southall on
Monday evening (yesterday).
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/co...c=669.msg87663
This is very sad - but why so many at Southall anyway? It does seem to
be a regular occurance.
Anyway you would have thought that First Great Western might have had
a contingency plan for such occurrences by now.
However the situation at Paddington was complete chaos. At 9.30 pm
when I s
was there all the destination board said was Delayed or Cancelled for
*every train* - Local, Intercity, and Airport.
The concourse was packed with late commuters trying to get home, yet
with no means of doing so.
There were no FGW or BAA HEX or Network Rail duty managers in sight.
Apparently they'd all gone home.
There were no extra staff drafted in to help inform the crowds.
There were no Transport Police / Community Officers in sight.
All of the gateline staff had gone home, and all the gates were left
open.
On the concourse one Information Desk was closed, on the other there
were just two staff to deal with the hoard of by now very frustrated
passengers. yet they had no information to give out except what was
displayed on the destination board - which said Delayed or Cancelled.
It was apparent that failing the appearance on any management no-one
knew what was going on and had no means of finding out.
There were no alternative transport arrangements available, i.e. with
coaches or buses, for getting airline travellers (laden with luggage)
to Heathrow - all of the BAA's HEX and CON services were all cancelled
to about 22.00. Hundreds of passengers must have missed their flights.
Southall has six lines / three pairs. If the incident affected say the
slow lines then there are at leastthe fast and freight lines that
could have been used as a local diversion. Even if the fast lines had
been affected then at least the slow and freight lines could have been
used.
Whilst it is sad that yet another person from Southall ws hit by a
train, it is unacceptable for Paddington to be reduced into chaos yet
again for the lack of any leadership or even appearance of any
managers or extra staff.
SB