Train Crash in Cumbria.

mole90 · 23 Feb 2007 at 23:43

[TW]Fox said:
This is incorrect. The train calls at many stations on the way. This train had last called at Oxenholme Lake District, and it left 6 minutes late.

Yeh the train would have various stops along the way. Each passenger on the particular virgin train service has an assigned seat so they would know how many passengers "should" be on the train between each station.

.Griff. · 23 Feb 2007 at 23:43

[TW]Fox said:
This is incorrect. The train calls at many stations on the way. This train had last called at Oxenholme Lake District, and it left 6 minutes late.

I was only going on what the Virgin spokesman said on Sky news. He seemed to believe it was direct.

[TW]Fox · 23 Feb 2007 at 23:45

WWS|Griff said:
I was only going on what the Virgin spokesman said on Sky news. He seemed to believe it was direct.

Then he was wrong. It was only direct in the sense that a passenger travelling from London to Glasgow would not need to change.

Superdude · 24 Feb 2007 at 00:20

[TW]Fox said:
Then he was wrong. It was only direct in the sense that a passenger travelling from London to Glasgow would not need to change.

Did seem a bit funny. Even if they did have a number, the PR reps should have still given an estimate.

Luke · 24 Feb 2007 at 00:21

They'd also not know how many season ticket holders were on board at the time. Seems like a guestimate based on reserved seating.

Scuzi · 24 Feb 2007 at 00:43

emailiscrap said:
They'd also not know how many season ticket holders were on board at the time. Seems like a guestimate based on reserved seating.

According to the BBC News website, the fire service have said there were approximately 180 people on board. There seems to be lots of injuries (48), with only 3 people in a critical condition. Considering the situation that's not really that bad.
Hopefully all will make a full recovery.

Superdude said:
The passenger interview on the BBC website really does show off the way the British hold themseleves during a accident such as this.

Maybe they'll celebrate by shooting a Brazillian in the head half a dozen times

xyphic · 24 Feb 2007 at 00:46

BBC News 24 interviewed a hospital spokesman who confirmed there's been one fatality so far.

tom_nieto · 24 Feb 2007 at 01:06

xyphic said:
BBC News 24 interviewed a hospital spokesman who confirmed there's been one fatality so far.

Damn, that really sucks. I hope the rest are ok.

el_dazza · 24 Feb 2007 at 01:35

xyphic said:
BBC News 24 interviewed a hospital spokesman who confirmed there's been one fatality so far.

3 in a critical condition too

Edinho · 24 Feb 2007 at 15:13

I think great credit has to go to Branson on spending money, which he didnt have to do, on building these amazing carriages. Not one window broken. :eek:

[TW]Fox · 24 Feb 2007 at 15:42

Edinho said:
I think great credit has to go to Branson on spending money, which he didnt have to do, on building these amazing carriages

Err it was a franchise commitment. It's one of the reasons he was awarded the franchise.

cleanbluesky · 24 Feb 2007 at 15:52

Scuzi said:
Maybe they'll celebrate by shooting a Brazillian in the head half a dozen times

Glad to see there's no sour grapes over the whole 'Ireland' thing...

Brum Man · 24 Feb 2007 at 16:05

I was actually on this train last night, but luckily I got off at Preson half an hour before it de-railed :/

The train was not really busy at all which I think was very luck else I think it could have bee much more serious.

Mr Joshua · 24 Feb 2007 at 16:07

Have they fitted Pendolinos with steering wheels too?

Branson said the driver held it on the "stones" for 3/4 of a mile, and the news ticker thing at the bottom of the screen said something like "Branson praised the driver for trying to steer the train to safety"...

Ice Globe · 24 Feb 2007 at 17:53

I was wondering why trains (or most) do not have seatbelts fitted as from what I have heard the main injuries were caused by being thrown around the carriage when it slid and toppled down the embankment.

[TW]Fox · 24 Feb 2007 at 17:59

Ice Globe said:
I was wondering why trains (or most) do not have seatbelts fitted as from what I have heard the main injuries were caused by being thrown around the carriage when it slid and toppled down the embankment.

Becuase accidents like this are so rare, it simply isn't worth it.

DRZ · 24 Feb 2007 at 18:03

This is the route that Blackstar needs to use to get home from here on Monday but the line is going to be closed for up to 2 weeks. A bus replacement is in action between Lancaster and Lockerbie.

dbmzk1 · 24 Feb 2007 at 18:10

Mr Joshua said:
Have they fitted Pendolinos with steering wheels too?

Branson said the driver held it on the "stones" for 3/4 of a mile, and the news ticker thing at the bottom of the screen said something like "Branson praised the driver for trying to steer the train to safety"...

Yes, actually they have. Usually its not physically a wheel, often being a handle or joystick type device, but the idea is the same. The driver can physically steer the train.

Berserker · 24 Feb 2007 at 18:22

andy said:
i was on a train that hit a cow last year

I was on the train behind one that hit a cow last year. Wonder if it was the same cow. :eek:

Richard Branson is certainly getting news coverage right now, but I hope he'll certainly be wishing he wasn't in this case.

Still, I think he's right, it could have been much worse. New trains do have a lot of safety features that older ones didn't.

Glaucus · 24 Feb 2007 at 18:31

last checked 3 weeks ago :eek:

.. Not looking good for us maintenance people

Anyone got a picture of the "broken rail" they've been showing on the news. they don't leave it up long enough.