TRAIN CRASH!!!

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
Could not agree more. Seeing him there with the wreckage behind him put the leaders of Network Rail -- who hid behind e-mailed press statements -- to shame.

The boss of Network Rail was there, being interviewed on TV. He couldn't really say much when there's an independent investigation in progress, which is likely to point to the track and therefore his company. Reporters were quizzing him on why this is the second crash "on his watch" but until the investigation concludes it hard for Network Rail to say anything really.

The "window smashers" are kept in one of those glow inthe dark boxes so you prob would see them, however it appears from passenger reports that the lighting stayed on in the carraiges anyway.

G.

An interesting insight into the world of PR thanks GJ.

I agree with what you say. They could just be presenting the engineering facts, which are probably in the public domain already if anybody cared to look. They will be judged later as to whether these facts come from good practice, and if not the practice will be improved (we hope), but as you say, at least be there defining your position.

A tragic incident indeed and one that could have been a lot worse if the drivers training and indeed the train itself were not up to scratch. Lets hope all those injures are on the road to a speedy recovery.

Iain

Originally posted by MarkJ
Have to say respect to SRB for getting up there and being on scene.

Yes, and despite having obviously been briefed by the appropriate people on his staff, SRB seemed blown away by the scene that met him in the Lune Gorge on Saturday morning.

He was a bit, "Er, well, this, er, is quite a scene of, um...", and seemed quite emotional (lip biting, etc.).

I guess this is why Branson has always appealed to the man in the street, he seems human and accessible like any one of us, no suit-clad smarm.

Yet despite in the face of obvious baiting from the assembled media, trying to get him to point the blame and threaten to sue Network Rail, he said the most sensible and dignified thing anyone said to the press all day:

"Everyone is going to have to learn from this incident and... make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

SRB's exposure to the airline industry proves it's worth in Virgin's other transport ventures - as this is the exact same approach the aviation sector takes to it's accident investigations: "Never again".

This makes it even sadder to learn that the preliminary investigation says that broken points were to blame, almost a repeat of Potters Bar. How tragic.

Mike

Once again, Branson was non-confrontational toward Network Rail in a TV interview, even after the revelation of the initial report from the RAIB, and commending Network Rail for "taking it on the chin".

Once again questioned by journalists about legal action, SRB replied "Anger is not the solution here", emphasised how the aviation industry does things, and encouraged co-operation in the rail industry to solve problems.

One minor faux-pas - at the end of his interview, he thanked the other members of crew, the local couple who turned over their home to help the passengers and rescuers, and the train makers "Alstom, in Birmingham".

Sadly, the factory which did final assembly of the Pendolino, at Washwood Heath in Birmingham closed after the last Pendolino rolled off the line, and brought to an end a long tradition of train building on the site.

Pendolinos, Eurostars, the Mk4s on GNER, some of the 'Sprinter' family, the new Gatwick Express trains and almost all the current London Underground stock, among others, were assembled at Washwood Heath. (Whenever you get the Tube look down at the step-plate by the door - if it says "Metro-Cammell" or "GEC Alsthom", it is a Birmingham product. Only the Central, W&C and Metropolitan lines run non-MetCamm stock.)

What is interesting is Alstom "gloss over" Washwood Heath's involvement in their recent press release, by saying the trains were made in Italy - as I understand it, that's where the bodyshells were erected. Final assembly was done at Birmingham.

Another sad twist in the tale.

Mike

The vehicle bodies were indeed contructed by FIAT Ferroviaria in Italy and the final assembly carried out at Washwood Heath. It is very fortunate that the train had little or no contact with the overhead line masts or other obstructions as it came off the road as the car bodies are made from alluminium - and they don't compare well to "tanks".

John