Driver’s death after being struck by train linked to lack of welfare facilities
Drivers’ union ASLEF is using World Toilet Day on November 19 (a United Nations observance day) to lobby the Department for Transport, Network Rail, passenger and freight operating companies, and industry groups on the need for access to clean, safe and appropriate toilets.
That need was thrown into sharp focus on February 1, when a driver was killed at West Worthing, in West Sussex, after he stepped down from his cab to relieve himself, the union says.
Although the Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s official report has yet to be published, the initial report says: “At 2033, a train running at 33mph passed a stationary train waiting in a siding, around 300 metres west of West Worthing station. It struck and fatally injured the driver of the stationary train, who had previously exited the cab and descended to track level.
“The driver who was struck had driven from Brighton to West Worthing and then into the siding where the accident occurred.
“The train was timetabled to wait here for a short time before returning to West Worthing station and forming the next service to Brighton.
“Train drivers should not normally need to leave their trains as part of their duties while waiting in this siding.”
ASLEF says there have long been concerns that the Class 313 stock has no toilets, while the West Worthing shuttle timetable does not allow drivers sufficient time to use a toilet between services.
“There had been previous complaints regarding drivers discarding bottles full of urine on the track at West Worthing, and threats of disciplinary action for those caught doing so,” said ASLEF Assistant General Secretary Simon Weller.
“We believe the driver who was hit had gone down to track level, in the dark, to urinate.”
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) issued an improvement notice to the operator (Govia Thameslink Railway) on May 17, saying it had “failed to provide adequate welfare facilities and arrangements for drivers and conductors operating Class 313 trains between Brighton station and West Worthing station.
“This includes toilets and the adequate time to access them. Therefore, as an employer, [GTR] has failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the welfare of their employees whilst they are at work.”
ORR says that the improvement notice was complied with on August 17.
Weller added: “While an unusual combination of stock type, siding location - between the Up and Down running lines - and lack of facilities ultimately led to this tragedy, I do not believe it to be unique.
“We are seeking information from company councils on similar stock types without toilets and inadequate facilities at similar locations, and will use the GTR improvement notice to effect changes at similar locations in other parts of the country.”