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Man electrocuted on Dorchester rail line (From Dorset Echo)
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Man electrocuted on Dorchester rail line
11:00am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in News By Samantha Harman
A 24-year-old man was killed as he tried to cross the electrified line near Dorchester South station
A MAN was electrocuted on a railway line as he crossed the tracks in Dorchester .
The 24-year-old visitor was killed on tracks near Dorchester South train station in the early hours, British Transport Police said.
It is believed he was trying to cross the line when he stepped on to the third rail which carries a 750 volt current.
An investigation is being carried out but the man’s death appears to be a ‘tragic accident’.
Train services on the Weymouth-Waterloo line were not affected because it happened so early in the morning and no services were running.
Police and South West Ambulance Service were called to the scene by Network Rail just after 4am on Sunday, where the man was pronounced dead.
A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP and Dorset Police officers were called to the line near Dorchester South rail station in the early hours of Sunday, August 19 after a man’s body was discovered.
“South Western Ambulance Service medics also attended but the man, a 24-year-old from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The incident was reported to BTP at 4.19am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.”
The tracks were handed back to Network Rail at 5.15am.
Both Network Rail, which owns the station, and South West Trains, which manages it and runs Weymouth-Waterloo services, did not wish to comment on the incident.
BTP Inspector Mick Morriss said: “We believe at this stage that the man was electrocuted after trying to cross the tracks.
“Sadly this appears to have been a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the man’s family at this difficult and sad time for them.”
The man’s family have been informed and a post mortem was due to take place yesterday.
Inspector Morriss added: “Officers will now be looking into the full circumstances surrounding this incident as part of the file to be prepared for the coroner.”
Residents of Cromwell Road and Alfred Road, which back on to the station, said they were ‘shocked’ over the tragedy but had not seen it. One, who did not wish to be named, said: “The platform slopes down and you can just walk straight on to the line, it could be quite dangerous.
“It’s a through-way into town and it’s just open for anyone to go through there.
“You get a few kids hanging about there but nothing like this has happened before.”
Another added that the area was very dark at night due to the lack of street lighting.
Dorchester councillor Tim Harries, who works as a taxi driver and often picks up passengers at the station, said: “It’s really terrible. The trains are running normally now, there’s no sign of an incident.
“You hear about things like this elsewhere, but this is the first I’ve heard here. It’s terrible.”
A similar tragedy occurred at Upwey three years ago.
In 2009, young dad Theo Slack died when he accidentally fell on to the line at Upwey train station.
Mr Slack, from Bristol, was killed by a 750 volt current and was hit by a train that passed by three minutes later.
Fatalities linked to trespass
In 2011, there were a total of 34 trespass fatalities on Britain’s railway.
Trains can travel up to 125 mph and take the length of 20 football pitches to stop.
Up to 60 people are killed on the railway every year by crossing the tracks, taking short cuts or playing chicken.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board, which runs the Trackoff campaign to teach children the dangers of railway lines, says the only safe places to cross are bridges, subways and level crossings.
Some trains are powered by electricity which is never switched off. In some parts of Britain, the electricity runs through a rail on the track and in others through the overhead power lines.
The electricity is so strong that if you touch a power rail or step on it, you will not be able to get off.
Comments(13)
xCharli
says...
12:56pm Tue 21 Aug 12
numbnuts846
says...
3:18pm Tue 21 Aug 12
xCharli
says...
4:13pm Tue 21 Aug 12
anonymous1511
says...
5:47pm Tue 21 Aug 12
As for the comment about the street lights being turned off is irrelevant as the lights at the train station are always on when it is dark. The street lights on Alfred road and Cromwell are turned off at night but that has no bearing on the level of light on the track!
Also the comment about the slope on the end of the tracks being potentially Dangerous is absurd anyone foolish enough to walk down the slopes and on to the track should not be allowed out with some form of supervision the bridge is clear as day and right in front of you no matter what time of day and which entrance you take on to the platforms.
The unfortunate man this incident refers to was simply and foolishly trying to shave a few seconds off his journey by crossing the tracks and clearly it wasn't worth it!
So Thank you Dorset Echo for getting simple facts wrong and for making a completely safe environment for normal sensible people seem like a complete death trap!!!!
I take my hat off to you!
craigs123
says...
12:42am Wed 22 Aug 12
anonymous1511 wrote:sad that this happened to such a young person, but what on earth was he doing crossing on the line?
I would first off like to congratulate the Dorset Echo for once again getting facts wrong and still deciding to publish this story! the man was found at 0352 by two passers by one of which ventured on to the tracks knowing the dangers in an attempt to the help the gentleman the police were then called at exactly that time! and police and paramedics were at the scene before anyone from network rail had even shown up!
As for the comment about the street lights being turned off is irrelevant as the lights at the train station are always on when it is dark. The street lights on Alfred road and Cromwell are turned off at night but that has no bearing on the level of light on the track!
Also the comment about the slope on the end of the tracks being potentially Dangerous is absurd anyone foolish enough to walk down the slopes and on to the track should not be allowed out with some form of supervision the bridge is clear as day and right in front of you no matter what time of day and which entrance you take on to the platforms.
The unfortunate man this incident refers to was simply and foolishly trying to shave a few seconds off his journey by crossing the tracks and clearly it wasn't worth it!
So Thank you Dorset Echo for getting simple facts wrong and for making a completely safe environment for normal sensible people seem like a complete death trap!!!!
I take my hat off to you!
the train station is not a death trap, but when people do not use the common sense granted to them, things like this happen. the platform does indeed slope down onto the tracks at both ends of the station and anyone could simply walk down and across the tracks, there are no barriers.
How do you know he was trying to shave a few seconds of his journey? were you there? you are slighting the Echo for getting facts wrong when you yourself are surmising the events. Hypocritical much?
anonymous1511
says...
1:41am Wed 22 Aug 12
craigs123 wrote:I was the person that wandered onto the tracks to check to see if he was ok and my girlfriend who was deeply upset by the whole event was the one who called the ambulance!
anonymous1511 wrote:sad that this happened to such a young person, but what on earth was he doing crossing on the line?
I would first off like to congratulate the Dorset Echo for once again getting facts wrong and still deciding to publish this story! the man was found at 0352 by two passers by one of which ventured on to the tracks knowing the dangers in an attempt to the help the gentleman the police were then called at exactly that time! and police and paramedics were at the scene before anyone from network rail had even shown up!
As for the comment about the street lights being turned off is irrelevant as the lights at the train station are always on when it is dark. The street lights on Alfred road and Cromwell are turned off at night but that has no bearing on the level of light on the track!
Also the comment about the slope on the end of the tracks being potentially Dangerous is absurd anyone foolish enough to walk down the slopes and on to the track should not be allowed out with some form of supervision the bridge is clear as day and right in front of you no matter what time of day and which entrance you take on to the platforms.
The unfortunate man this incident refers to was simply and foolishly trying to shave a few seconds off his journey by crossing the tracks and clearly it wasn't worth it!
So Thank you Dorset Echo for getting simple facts wrong and for making a completely safe environment for normal sensible people seem like a complete death trap!!!!
I take my hat off to you!
the train station is not a death trap, but when people do not use the common sense granted to them, things like this happen. the platform does indeed slope down onto the tracks at both ends of the station and anyone could simply walk down and across the tracks, there are no barriers.
How do you know he was trying to shave a few seconds of his journey? were you there? you are slighting the Echo for getting facts wrong when you yourself are surmising the events. Hypocritical much?
So in answer to your question yes i was there!
So in what way may i ask am i being hypocritical???
Old Colonial
says...
9:38am Wed 22 Aug 12
1. Don't walk on the tracks.
2. Don't believe all you read in the papers.
Old Colonial
says...
9:38am Wed 22 Aug 12
1. Don't walk on the tracks.
2. Don't believe all you read in the papers.
niceonecyril
says...
9:43am Wed 22 Aug 12
anonymous1511 wrote:By bemoaning the Echo for not being factual, and then stating something that is not fact yourself. The difference been, the Echo can only print details they obtain from 3rd parties, you on the other hand just made it up !
craigs123 wrote:I was the person that wandered onto the tracks to check to see if he was ok and my girlfriend who was deeply upset by the whole event was the one who called the ambulance!
anonymous1511 wrote:sad that this happened to such a young person, but what on earth was he doing crossing on the line?
I would first off like to congratulate the Dorset Echo for once again getting facts wrong and still deciding to publish this story! the man was found at 0352 by two passers by one of which ventured on to the tracks knowing the dangers in an attempt to the help the gentleman the police were then called at exactly that time! and police and paramedics were at the scene before anyone from network rail had even shown up!
As for the comment about the street lights being turned off is irrelevant as the lights at the train station are always on when it is dark. The street lights on Alfred road and Cromwell are turned off at night but that has no bearing on the level of light on the track!
Also the comment about the slope on the end of the tracks being potentially Dangerous is absurd anyone foolish enough to walk down the slopes and on to the track should not be allowed out with some form of supervision the bridge is clear as day and right in front of you no matter what time of day and which entrance you take on to the platforms.
The unfortunate man this incident refers to was simply and foolishly trying to shave a few seconds off his journey by crossing the tracks and clearly it wasn't worth it!
So Thank you Dorset Echo for getting simple facts wrong and for making a completely safe environment for normal sensible people seem like a complete death trap!!!!
I take my hat off to you!
the train station is not a death trap, but when people do not use the common sense granted to them, things like this happen. the platform does indeed slope down onto the tracks at both ends of the station and anyone could simply walk down and across the tracks, there are no barriers.
How do you know he was trying to shave a few seconds of his journey? were you there? you are slighting the Echo for getting facts wrong when you yourself are surmising the events. Hypocritical much?
So in answer to your question yes i was there!
So in what way may i ask am i being hypocritical???
anonymous1511
says...
10:08am Wed 22 Aug 12
All i was trying to point out was that the dorset echo once again have made a story using only one correct fact! the mans age and where he was from!
And then proceeded to add quotes from people that are completely irrelevant to what has actually happened!
Also please could you tell me what non factual piece of information i'd supplied that would be appreciated!
anonymous1511
says...
10:34am Wed 22 Aug 12
stench
says...
12:11pm Wed 22 Aug 12
anonymous1511 wrote:I think your rant was well justified! (based on what you said).
Infact, ignore all my comments i really don't have the energy to debate and argue about fact or fiction on here! My initial comment was merely a rant and it did make me feel a little better!
xCharli says...
12:55pm Tue 21 Aug 12