Walking Along Tracks

Apologies for the bad language.

So, today someone jumped in front of (or fell - we don't know yet) a train at Norbury Station.

The train I was in was therefore held outside of Norbury Station for an hour and a half. The driver had to turn the battery off so we had no AC (it was HOT in the train), and he windows could not be opened (the driver tried to open them to no avail).

People were agitated.

We then saw people walking along the tracks. The number of people walking past our carriage (we were in the first carriage) increased until it was apparent that everyone was getting off the train. We were initially annoyed as we knew this would further increase the delay in us moving anywhere.
At the same time we didn't know how long we'd be stuck - the driver had no information to give us.

After some deliberation, we decided to walk to the back of the train where everyone seemed to be getting off.

I never wear heels going home, and if I do I always have a pair of flats with me. Of course this time I only had heels with me - typical.

Just to clear things up (due to all the stick I've had from some Twitter users), the driver got off the train as well - I don't know why. He mentioned the tracks were live hence us all keeping to the side. The police arrived and told us we were OK to walk on the tracks but to avoid one of them which was the electric one. You can just about hear this in the video.

Yes, it's foolish to walk on tracks, and yes, inevitably this delayed things more. However, in this instance the choice was to stay on the train which could have had its doors forced open and basically go nowhere, or join everyone else and walk home. What would you have done?

This is the first time I've used a BlackBerry to take videos and I got a call while I took this. As a result it cut off, but I have two other videos showing police helping us get off the tracks.

(Thanks to the lovely man who carried me off the train since I couldn't jump in heels!)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• train
• tracks
• london
• transport
• roadkill
• police
• norbury

[martwap1]

I'm a train driver, and I drive trains along this stretch all the time. Firstly, I dont understand why you got out and walked the tracks, all it takes is one train to come along and you would all be wiped out. Secondly, you couldn't pay me enough money to walk next to the live rail, one touch on that and you will die. Thirdly, it's got diddly squat to do with TFL, as you were walking on southern railway tracks. And fourthly, you were trespassing, which is illegal and so, so dangerous. I've had

[andreww1978]

@brandygrrl It actually says in the description that they deliberated and then decided to get off the train. It did not say that they were told to. You're trying to get drivers and police in serious trouble because you can't ever take responsibility for your own actions.

[charlottecollins0208]

The stupid actions of yourselves caused further delays and put your lives in danger. You have no idea whether the power is on or not and could have killed not only yourself by some others. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE PROSECUTED

[77poshboy]

If I had been the driver of the train that they got off I would have kept quiet - though my only concern would have been another driver seeing them and shitting themself...

[adriandurrant]

@railroadrob2010 They should get the same as the people who took part in the riots: The woman who shot this video should get four years. The inconvenience and distress they caused was equal to that caused by the rioters and if they get away with what they did it will prove that anti-social behaviour is only punishable when committed by those who are lowest on the social pyramid. Give this middle-class shower some short sharp jail sentences to make them reflect on their stupidity.

[railroadrob2010]

@adriandurrant Throw away the key!

[rickyjc]

Taken from the southern press release put out the day after:

Delays were lengthened by a small number of passengers who chose to get off their train and walk to Norbury station. Their actions just as the power was ready to be switched on, not only endangered their lives but extended delays for everyone else by an additional hour.

[TheLittleredxxxx]

@lookupmonster Clearly on your planet, no cyclists die on the roads and the pavements at rush hour instantly triple in width to accommodate the thousands of stranded commuters. I wrote this comment about striking in response to Network Rail members hurling abuse at a single passenger, yet we are expected not to question or protest their actions that put us at risk and make us equally angry.

[wezza1311]

@lookupmonster You need to brush up on your legalities I think!!!

[lookupmonster]

@TheLittleredxxxx I'm confused. While no-one likes strikes, a) what does a strike have to do with this situation in any way? and b) "risking people's lives"?! eh? what planet are you on where a lack of trains endangers people?

[jahquanzan]

One irresponsible mindless idiot who wants to be a Mavrrick and willing to risk the lives of other fellow passengers by walking along the track not knowing which is the live rail, how pathetic are you. well i guess that question has been answered and because of your stupidity it took the Police, Network Rail,Southern twice as long to sort out the Problem Next time be a irresponsible Idiot somewhere else (On the Bus maybe)

Ps:the Bitch who took this Video needs a Slap upside her head.

.

[highwaystar1234]

@lsoldatt

"Forced" to leave the trainWhat, somebody told you? What an arse.