Train bomb scare drama features on TV documentary
THE new fly-on-the-wall documentary about TransPennine Express, will feature high drama on a train to Huddersfield.
This week’s episode of Railway 24/7 unfolds with Mandy Spencer, a conductor on board a Huddersfield to Manchester service, having to deal with a potential bomb scare.
An abandoned black rucksack is found on board a train with 100 passengers on board, forcing Mandy to bring the train to a halt causing huge disruption on the already stressed rail network.
The six-part documentary about the trials and tribulations on the embattled rail network began two weeks ago.
Filmed during the well documented recent timetable struggles, it takes a look at the issues staff and customers face on a daily basis.
Episode three, due to air today (Wednesday) at 9pm on Channel 5, features staff taking on a new hard line on fare dodgers.
On D-Day for the new penalty fare system, the entire revenue protection team fan out across the network to catch fare-dodgers with huge results in the first week alone.
One of those on the frontline is former Polish prison officer Lukasz Sambor.
Meanwhile, in the maintenance depot, Carl Moriarty and Steve Brundrett are replacing a five-tonne bogie, the structure that connects the wheels to the carriages.
To do that, they must hoist the entire three-car train up into the air, using twelve sturdy piston jacks. If the carriages snag on their way up, they could cause huge damage to the bogies.
Liz Collins, Interim Managing
Director at TransPennine Express, said: “Fare dodgers have been a thorn in our side for years and the penalty fare system brought in was vital in ensuring passengers didn’t take advantage of the service.
“We have millions of customers who pay their way on our services each and every year, yet there are a select few who expect to board and travel for free, which is unfair on our paying customers, hence the reason for the system and the resulting clamp down on fare dodgers.
“Viewers I am sure will be on the edge of their seat when it comes to seeing how our conductor Mandy dealt with a potential bomb scare on board one of our services too.
“The actions of our colleagues and their interaction and care shown towards customers on a daily basis makes me extremely proud, they are essential to the running of our services and I am sure this episode will highlight this.”