Woman who died on train named

THE woman who died who “may have been leaning out of a window” on a train has been pictured for the first time.

Bethan Roper died on a train to Bristol Temple Meads, travelling between Bath and Keynsham, on December 1. The charity worker suffered major head injuries. She was just 28 years old and had been Christmas shopping with her friends before her life was tragically cut short.

Bethan, who was also chair of a young socialist group, had been returning to her South Wales home after spending the day at Bath’s Christmas Market when she suffered the fatal blow to her head.

BTP said its initial inquiries suggested Bethan may have been leaning out of a carriage window at the time.

A BTP spokesman said a day after the incident: “Officers from British Transport Police attended along with colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police and South Western Ambulance Service, but despite their best efforts the woman died at the scene. Our investigation remains at an early stage, but initial inquiries suggest the woman may have been leaning out of a window when she suffered a blow to the head.”

An inquest into Bethan’s death has yet to open at Avon Coroner’s Court in Bristol.

The young woman, from Penarth, was working for the Welsh Refugee Council at the time of her death. Bethan was also a campaigner and chairman of Young Socialists Cardiff.