All trains were been cancelled in and out of Paddington for the best
part of this afternoon. Trains only started going through H&H about an
hour ago (18,00). We arrived at H&H just now and they were still
scrubbing the surface and surrounds of platform 3. All was roped off
there. The smell was over-powering. No further details. We're getting
about one suicide every three weeks on this line - usually at Southall
and now H&H. Appalling. And nothing seems to be getting done about
this situation.

And of course thousands of passengers for Heathrow missed their
flights, with consequent missed flight connections, hotel reservations
and appointments. HCon and HEX (aka BAA) failed to provide alternative
transportation.

And there did not seem to be any contingency plans at Paddington
despite this being a regular occurrence.

CJB.

wrote in message
...

All trains were been cancelled in and out of Paddington for the best
part of this afternoon. Trains only started going through H&H about an
hour ago (18,00). We arrived at H&H just now and they were still
scrubbing the surface and surrounds of platform 3. All was roped off
there. The smell was over-powering. No further details. We're getting
about one suicide every three weeks on this line - usually at Southall
and now H&H. Appalling. And nothing seems to be getting done about
this situation.

And of course thousands of passengers for Heathrow missed their
flights, with consequent missed flight connections, hotel reservations
and appointments. HCon and HEX (aka BAA) failed to provide alternative
transportation.

And there did not seem to be any contingency plans at Paddington
despite this being a regular occurrence.

CJB.

What would you suggest: snowploughs fitted on front of trains? permanent
max. 10mph limit through area? build diversionary route?

Bloody (literally) annoying but not a lot you can do about these selfish
buggers!

MaxB

In message , at 20:07:44 on
Tue, 19 Jul 2011, MaxB remarked:

What would you suggest: snowploughs fitted on front of trains?
permanent max. 10mph limit through area? build diversionary route?

As there are more than two tracks through the area, why can't they carry
on running trains on the remaining clear ones?

And as a more general point, indicate how people might take an alternate
route themselves (eg tube to Heathrow, from Waterloo to Reading etc).

Given that people are supposed to check in at Heathrow two or three
hours in advance, and it's only 55 mins by tube from Paddington to
Heathrow [change at Gloucester Rd or Earls Court depending on which
train arrives first], it shouldn't really cause anyone to miss a flight,
if they are given the information quickly enough.
--
Roland Perry

In article ,
(Paul Corfield) wrote:

Please tell me how on earth any railway operator is able to
*prevent* people committing suicide?

That isn't the point, Paul. It happens, as you say, and regularly. So
there should be properly organised contingency plans in place by now so
the whole route between Paddington and Heathrow is not shut down for hours
at a time. It has been a regular criticism of the railways that their
plans for handling disruption are not good enough.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On Jul 19, 10:39*pm, wrote:
In article ,

(Paul Corfield) wrote:
Please tell me how on earth any railway operator is able to
*prevent* people committing suicide?

That isn't the point, Paul. It happens, as you say, and regularly. So
there should be properly organised contingency plans in place by now so
the whole route between Paddington and Heathrow is not shut down for hours
at a time. It has been a regular criticism of the railways that their
plans for handling disruption are not good enough.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

More at:

http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/wes...3046-29083644/

wrote:

And nothing seems to be getting done about this situation.

What would you propose? A certificate of mental stability from all passengers
checked at the turnstyle? A quick reaction cleanup squad? Just wondering...

wrote:

And there did not seem to be any contingency plans at Paddington
despite this being a regular occurrence.

Is there some especial reason for it happening regularly at Paddington - an
open home in the area for instance?

"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
...

Please tell me how on earth any railway operator is able to *prevent*
people committing suicide?

I understand Southern have had some success with the measures they have
taken at the more notorious spots in their territory. Maybe they employ
people who are prepared to think about the problem rather than just
accepting it?

--
DAS

In message , at 02:31:32 on Wed, 20 Jul
2011, Tim Roll-Pickering remarked:
And there did not seem to be any contingency plans at Paddington
despite this being a regular occurrence.

Is there some especial reason for it happening regularly at Paddington - an
open home in the area for instance?

Paddington is where the effects are felt, and where people think not
enough is done to alert passengers to alternative routes (or indeed
where not enough is done to arrange temporary transport - perhaps a bus
shuttle to Heathrow).

The hot spots for the suicides themselves are in the suburbs.
--
Roland Perry

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:39:44 -0600, Robert Neville
wrote:

wrote:

And nothing seems to be getting done about this situation.

What would you propose? A certificate of mental stability from all passengers
checked at the turnstyle?

That would help ensure everone got a seat!
--
Cheers

Peter

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