Topic ID 4508
I took the 22:56 from Kings Cross last night, nodded off after half an hour. Awoke to a pitch black train, didn't seem to be in a station, didn't know where I was. I could hear what sounded like someone walking on gravel, and realised what had happened! I shouted out of an open window, but got no response. Had to force the doors open and drop down to the embankment and walk the 50 metres to platform 3 at Hertford North. I could see the driver ahead of me, walking up the platform, can't think how he didn't hear me shouting since he can't have been 20 metres away from me at the time - where the front of the train was. The driver had parked the train up for the night just south of the footbridge, without checking properly there was anyone left on it. I happened to be sitting in the one part of the train without any windows, so I assume he just walked the length of the train looking through the windows and not checking the huge blind spot I was in. Not particularly good, I had to cross tracks. What if it had been an OAP, or someone seriously ill?
Reply ID 64483
I hope you will forgive me if I had a little chuckle to myself when I read this.. The same thing (ish) happened to me but it also involved spending a century on a hotel room in Oxford when I was meant to get off at Reading - so it could have been worse!
Reply ID 64484
Sure I will :) It's quite funny in hindsight, but I can't think what it might be like for, say, a pregnant woman, or someone that couldn't get the doors open, for example. Of course, a few phone calls will have sorted it, but the driver should have checked properly before he parked it for the night. There's no way he could have not heard me shouting out the window. I think the lights going out and the power being cut off woke me. I could hear his footsteps on the gravel from where I was sitting, so he could have heard my shouts, telling him I was still in the train. They were ignored. I complained to FCC last night, I will be interested to hear what they come up with.
Reply ID 64485
They'll probably tell you that you had the "wrong type" of shout. [:)]
Reply ID 64488
I would suspect this could be a disciplinary matter. I would imagine there could be Health & Safety implications in leaving people on an unattended train. I would say that FCC have failed in their Duty Of Care.
Reply ID 64489
I had a friend who spent the night in a pub toilet in Walthamstow after falling asleep and getting locked in , everyone should have a chapter like this for their autobiography . [:D] Come on , you dont really want the driver to get sacked , do you ?
Reply ID 64494
I always wanted to be able to tell a story like that. A friend of mine once woke up in the victoria line sidings near Tottenham Hale. As i recall he just slept there til the next train left a few hours later.
Reply ID 64500
Just curious...had you consumed a few dry sherries ?
Reply ID 64504
I'd had three 33cl bottles of Peroni. I also had headphones on and had eaten a burger king in a food-emergency prior to getting on the train, if you're curious [;)]
Reply ID 64519
[:D]
quote:It was the burger that did it - Honest Guv ...........[:D]
Originally posted by steven
I'd had three 33cl bottles of Peroni. I also had headphones on and had eaten a burger king in a food-emergency prior to getting on the train, if you're curious [;)]
Reply ID 64523
quote:How easy/hard was it to get the doors open? I've never got locked in a train, but my wife and I managed to get locked in Hertford Cemetery the night before our wedding[:0]
Had to force the doors open and drop down to the embankment
Reply ID 64525
heard a story of hertford of "character" a few years ago who after having "1 or 2"beers made his way to kings x to get the train home got on the wrong train and woke up in HULL !!!
Reply ID 64529
quote:I think they're designed to be forced open without needing power. Wasn't too hard but took a little bit of effort. They really, really want to spring back though, my rucksack got caught in them. Reminds me of a time I was going into London from Hertford East, the train stopped for a moment to let a train pass just north of Broxbourne. One likely lad decided he didn't want to wait or something, so forced the doors open and scarpered up the track. The oncoming train must have missed him by inches! Idiot.
Originally posted by Forbes How easy/hard was it to get the doors open?
Reply ID 64532
a mate of mine, working on the tube, tried to wake someone once , was attacked and ended off work for 3 weeks..perhaps they are only encouraged to speak to a 'sleeper' and not touch?
Reply ID 64608
quote:I predict contact from the Mercury in 5..4..3..
Originally posted by steven
I took the 22:56 from Kings Cross last night, nodded off after half an hour.
Reply ID 64660
quote:So not really a situation a pregnant women or OAP would find themselves in . I reckon the driver checked you wasnt old or pregnant and left you , ignoring your shouts as he went , chuckling to himself .
Originally posted by steven
I'd had three 33cl bottles of Peroni. I also had headphones on and had eaten a burger king in a food-emergency prior to getting on the train, if you're curious [;)]
Reply ID 64671
It must be something to do with this thread...last night as i roused from my slumbers (having got an earlier than usual train) I was aghast to see Hertford North gently passing by as we accelerated away.
Reply ID 64676
quote:Why not? Don't the elderly or pregnant people take trains home at night, or do they never sleep? Don't be silly, of course they're not going to leave anyone on a train overnight.
Originally posted by Donostia So not really a situation a pregnant women or OAP would find themselves in . I reckon the driver checked you wasnt old or pregnant and left you , ignoring your shouts as he went , chuckling to himself .
Reply ID 64681
quote:Not after swigging Italian beer they dont.
Why not? Don't the elderly or pregnant people take trains home at night
Reply ID 64683
quote:Drinking, not swigging. I'd had three bottles, hardly a drunkard. So, let's get this straight. A pregnant woman or OAP wouldn't find themselves in this situation (which is being overlooked by a train driver before he parks his train), because they don't "swig" Italian beer? Therefore they could never find themselves nodding off on the train home, and being overlooked? There is absolutely no logic to what you say. I like the massive amount of assumptions you made before posting without thinking. You have missed the point entirely.
Originally posted by Donostiaquote:Not after swigging Italian beer they dont.
Why not? Don't the elderly or pregnant people take trains home at night
Reply ID 64687
What if you were a pregnant OAP that had been swigging Italian beer ? - would you be left on the train ?
Reply ID 64688
quote:The only point im interested in is you have made an official complaint to a company in order to jeopardize a persons job because you fell asleep on a train after drinking 3 bottles of beer . You should just save what is a great story for the pub and withdraw the complaint. Talk about fictitious pregnant women and OAP's is not going to justify anything .
You have missed the point entirely
Reply ID 64689
quote:Sorry, you're quite wrong, and you're still missing the point entirely. The beer had nothing to do with it at all. The point is, the driver did not check his train was empty before he parked it up for the night. Any beer I had beforehand is totally irrelevant. The duty is on the driver to make sure his train is empty. I could have been someone that had died of a heart attack, or in a diabetic coma, my use of random examples has everything to do with it. It just doesn't matter that I had three beers, or those coffees at lunchtime, or was listening to music. There is no link between them except in your mind. I don't suppose it matters to you that there are quite serious health and safety implications. What if I had seen a train coming as I crossed the track, ran to avoid it, tripped and been hit by it? I am right to complain, and I would do again. This is really going to boggle your mind, so prepare yourself. I work in the city, have a mentally demanding job, and nod off on the train home about 3 times a week, usually on the 18.18. Without _any_ alcohol in my system except trace elements. Crazy, isn't it. I see you edited your post to add the word 'fictitious'. Get over yourself.
Originally posted by Donostia The only point im interested in is you have made an official complaint to a company in order to jeopardize a persons job because you fell asleep on a train after drinking 3 bottles of beer . You should just save what is a great story for the pub and withdraw the complaint. Talk about pregnant women and OAP's is not going to justify anything .
Reply ID 64691
Heart attack....diabetic coma..... run over by train....i work in the city .....mentally demanding ...editing posts .... Ok , ok , lets sack the driver , the bloody murderer . [:D][:D]
Reply ID 64692
The problem with this story is there is a light hearted and serious issue to it. Can you both just agree that you are both focusing on the differnt sides ! [:)][;)]
Reply ID 64693
I spent a lot of time working on the London underground as a contractor and safety is paramount. Driver have to walk the length of the train(inside) before ever shutting it down for the night or parking in sidings or depots. The result of not doing this could be fatal to someone trying to do as Steven did and get out without knowing his surroundings. It is the responsibility of the rail company to keep thier passangers safe at all times and in this case they failed.
Reply ID 64694
quote:How do you know he complained in order to jeopardize a person's job? Has it been stated anywhere that the driver should be sacked? Maybe I missed that. Certainly the driver had not done his job properly in checking that the train was empty, and this shortcoming should be brought to the attention of both the train company and individiual concerned. The reasons for the passenger being asleep are irrelevant. The fact that the train company failed in it's duty of care is.
Originally posted by Donostia
The only point im interested in is you have made an official complaint to a company in order to jeopardize a persons job
Reply ID 64695
In no way did I say anything like I wanted anyone sacked, to make that clear. I wouldn't have said anything had it been at a platform. The fact I had to walk up the track with trains still running is why I complained.
Reply ID 64697
quote:Whether the intention or not , once disciplinary action is started that is the reality.
How do you know he complained in order to jeopardize a person's job? Has it been stated anywhere that the driver should be sacked? Maybe I missed that
Reply ID 64698
My heavily pregnant, drunken great-grandmother agreed with steven, as she'd finished the cold scrapings from the wrapper of a long since consumed bacon-double-cheese and idly kicked the empty beer bottles round the floor of the carriage which has been her home for the last week. Seriously though, steven does have a point. Getting off a train without a platform is hard enough without the risk posed by other trains. When I drove airport coaches, last job before leaving the vehicle was always to check for sleepers, which I frequently found. A simple walk through the carriages would prevent such an incident and should be (if it's not already) standard procedure.
Reply ID 64699
quote:good.
Originally posted by Donostiaquote:Whether the intention or not , once disciplinary action is started that is the reality.
How do you know he complained in order to jeopardize a person's job? Has it been stated anywhere that the driver should be sacked? Maybe I missed that
Reply ID 64705
quote:I would question that. Unless it is gross misconduct (which I don't believe this is) I would say it is unlikely that a single disciplinary issue would lead to dismissal. Unless of course the employee had a record of issues, in which case maybe dismissal would be appropriate.
Originally posted by Donostiaquote:Whether the intention or not , once disciplinary action is started that is the reality.
How do you know he complained in order to jeopardize a person's job? Has it been stated anywhere that the driver should be sacked? Maybe I missed that
Reply ID 64708
I doubt very much he would be sacked, probably a warning and retraining. Remember the unions are still seriously strong in this profession
Reply ID 64791
quote:Wouldn't work; you couldn't see them through the floor, you have to be outside to see the sleepers. I've got my coat on already....
When I drove airport coaches, last job before leaving the vehicle was always to check for sleepers, which I frequently found. A simple walk through the carriages would prevent such an incident and should be (if it's not already) standard procedure.
Reply ID 64903
Who's to say the driver will lose his job? I don't think so. I think this sort of thing happens a lot more than we all know about, probably worse... I think they are supposed to walk through the carriages to check people are not in them, but again might have tried to rouse the gentleman by voice alone but a bit baffled as to why he didn't at least try to get him up.. Plus once the train is in the siding, would there by a "rule" that doesn't allow passengers to go through the drivers cab and down to ground level not to a platform, as walking on the tracks is prohibited isn't it???? Just guessing..
Reply ID 64928
Brilliant! - this is something my hubby would do. He has often called me from Terminal 2 at 12am wondering how he got there!!!
Reply ID 65092
I think if I had fallen asleep and missed my stop after only drinking 3 little bottles of beer, I would keep quiet about it.
Reply ID 65095
Ever wish you hadnt mentioned the 3 bottles of beer steven? Lets face it that made little or no impact on the situation
Reply ID 65100
They know that isn't the point, but let them have their little digs if it makes them feel better.
Reply ID 65285
Reply ID 65287
quote:Such a shame they don't have the courtesy to mention that it's the Discover Hertford Online Forum they got the story from, rather than just "an online forum".
Originally posted by Kate
http://www.herald24.co.uk/content/herald/news/story.aspx?brand=EHHOnline&category=NewsEastHerts&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=newslatestEHH&itemid=WEED16%20Jul%202009%2012%3A31%3A41%3A920
Reply ID 65291
That is so funny! 3 330cl bottles of beer mentioned again! Lazy journalism that is most of the article was copied and pasted from here
Reply ID 65294
The constant mentions of three bottles of beer is driving me to drink.
Reply ID 65296
Paper implies you were drunk. Can you clarify whether you "shotgunned" the beers and were you drinking them on the train ?
Reply ID 65297
No, work drinks from about 6.30pm, I had them over a 3.5 hour period, certainly wasn't drinking on the train.
Reply ID 65310
So binge drinking then....tut..tut
Reply ID 65313
I must admit reading the Herald article did make me laugh, what high drama! Remind me never to mention alcohol and travelling into Hertford East for fear of ending up in the Herald
Reply ID 65335
You poor thing Steven - bet you wish you had not bothered saying anything! Saw the article and the beer coment was slightly unfair.
Reply ID 65336
quote:[:D][:D][:D][:D] very good! I always tell my missus I only had three beers too! [8D]
Originally posted by Rabbit Rabbitquote:Wouldn't work; you couldn't see them through the floor, you have to be outside to see the sleepers. I've got my coat on already....
When I drove airport coaches, last job before leaving the vehicle was always to check for sleepers, which I frequently found. A simple walk through the carriages would prevent such an incident and should be (if it's not already) standard procedure.
Reply ID 65339
quote:So is stealing "news" stories from forums and quoting without permission or the full facts I suppose. Must have been a very slow news week [:)]
Originally posted by VC1
You poor thing Steven - bet you wish you had not bothered saying anything! Saw the article and the beer coment was slightly unfair.