Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Mum of tragic teen welcomes new station platform barriers
A grieving mum has welcomed the installation of platform barriers at a railway station where her teenage daughter tragically died.
Spires Academy pupil Taiyah Peebles, 16, is thought to have been electrocuted after wandering off the end of the platform at Herne Bay late at night in July.
She had been returning home on the train with friends after a night out in Whitstable.
Taiyah’s death will be investigated at a forthcoming inquest, but Network Rail has now acted to prevent a similar tragedy.
Taiyah’s mother, Hayley Peebles, had been backing a campaign started by friends on change.org for extra safety measures at stations.
This week she said: “We have been pressing for the barriers and I’m obviously pleased Network Rail has installed them.
“I would hate to think of another family going through what we have.
“Hopefully this will prevent it happening again – although, of course, there are many more stations that don’t have them where the risk remains.”
A Network Rail spokesman said: “While Herne Bay is not one of our higher risk locations, we have installed platform-end fencing at the station.
“Our thoughts remain with Taiyah’s family and friends following this tragic incident.
“Safety is, and always will be, our top priority, and we continue to work with British Transport Police and the Samaritans, going out to schools and youth groups to talk about the risks associated with the railways.”