Daniel O’Mahony

West London
XX Midlands Y / Northwestern

A’ Railway ite)

Dpereand by West Midlands Trains

RECEIVED
Geoffrey Sullivan 15 NOV 2018
The Old Courthouse, li3 y
St Albans Road East, SS
Hatfield,
Herts
AL10 OES

14th November 2018

Dear Sir,

London North Western Railway have been requested to respond to a Regulation 28 report
to prevent future deaths issued by Geoffrey Sullivan HM Senior Coroner for Hertfordshire in
relation to the death of Daniel James O’Mahony on the 18" December 2017 at Hemel
Hempstead Railway Station.

The report had 6 matters of concern that London North Western Railway have been asked
to respond to by the 16" November 2018.

1)

2)

Samaritans signage has not been reviewed and updated around the station
Samaritans signage is displayed at stations in line with the Industry Guidance for
using Samaritans Communications Materials on the Rail Network as issued by the
Rail Industry Suicide Stakeholder Group. A review undertaken in October 2018
concluded that there were 10 signs containing the current Samaritans “Talk to Us”
campaign and 116123 number. These signs are displayed at each platform end and 2
are displayed between platforms 2/3 in line with Industry Guidance. The review
found that 1 outdated Samaritans sign was displayed on a lighting column between
platforms 2/3. This has now been removed.

The review also identified that other parts of the station area could benefit from
additional Samaritans posters and signs. 1x metal Samaritans sign will be installed by
the night entrance, 1x Samaritans metal sign will be installed on the brick wall by the
cycle racks, 2x new poster cases and Samaritans posters will be installed in the
subway. These have been planned in with the West Midlands Trains Property Team
for action.

Anti-trespass measures have not been installed at the end of the platforms, to
prevent ready access from the end of the platform to the railway lines

Platform end measures normally fall under the responsibility of Network Rail.
Network Rail have advised that there are no standard requirements to have platform
end measures, such as fencing, a gate and a form of tactile or rubber mat but they
are installed when particular risk is identified and when specific funding becomes
available.

West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway are operated by West Midlands Trains Ltd.
Head Office: 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2ES. Registered number: 9860466. VAT number: 278 2688 49.
West Midlands Trains Ltd is owned by Abellio, East Japan Railway Company, Mitsui & Co., Ltd and Mitsui & Co., Europe.

3

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4)

A Train dispatch and platform safety risk assessment carried out on 20" April 2018
under section 8 “Items considered but not deemed a risk” noted that the platform
ends were not fitted with anti-trespass gates but that there were no reported
incidents attributed to this.

It is recognised that a fence or gate can offer both a visual and physical barrier to
anyone wishing to access the track unlawfully, but access can be gained from any
point of the platform if someone is determined to do so. Network Rail undertook a
review of Anti-trespass measures at stations between Rugby and London Euston and
as a result Network Rail advise that a remit for this work has been submitted as part
of a suite of fencing enhancements across the London North Western Route utilising
a funding source that has become available and it is still in the design and planning
stage, we are not able to give any timescales at present for this work.

Cross hatching yellow paint is not present on the fast line platforms 1 and 2. To
clearly demark the area

Network Rail advise that there is no requirement for cross hatching in any Network
Rail standard. It has been used in isolation where there is a passenger train interface
issue or risk identified such as overcrowding around stairs and where fast trains pass
through narrow platforms. This is not an issue at Hemel Hempstead on these 2
platforms as Platform 1 where fast trains pass through is fenced and gated off to the
public when trains are running normally as per the timetable. These gates allow
access as and when Platform 1 is needed for stopping trains such as during
engineering works, in perturbation such as a track blockage, or an infrastructure
failure on the slow railway lines.

Platform 2 the other fast line platform has had a barrier fence installed between it
and Platform 3 to separate the 2 Platforms. If work is completed as covered under
concern 5 and 6 then there would be no access to the fast line platform 2 when
trains are running normally as per the timetable.

Anti-trespass signage has not been replaced at the end of platforms to be more
visible

To prosecute for an offence of trespass there must be displayed at the nearest
passenger station to where the offence took place, at least 1 red trespass warning
sign on public display anywhere at the station. Hemel Hempstead is therefore
compliant with this requirement.

A Train dispatch and platform safety risk assessment carried out on 20" April 2018
under “Passenger Behavioural Risk”, identified as Low Risk the faded additional
trespass warning signage on Platform 4. This has been raised with Network Rail on
the 9" November 2018 to install a new sign.

There is a mixture of additional passenger warning signage on display at the platform
ends. West Midlands Trains has requested that Network Rail update and standardise
these signs and install them as part of the remit for the platform end fencing and
gates if installed under concern number 2.

5)

6)

There are gaps in the mid-section fencing between platforms 2 and 3

Previously work was undertaken between Network Rail and London Midland to
install the fencing between platforms 2 and 3. The funding for this work was
supplied by Network Rail, but project managed by London Midland due to the
station lease agreement. This ceased at the end of the franchise and funding
agreement that was in place. Network Rail advise that the outstanding work to fill
the gaps with sliding gates has been submitted as a remit as part of a suite of fencing
enhancements across the London North Western Route utilising a funding source
that has become available and it is still in the design and planning stage. We are not
able to give any timescales at present for this work.

The work if completed will prevent passengers from accessing the fast line platform
2 when trains are running normally as per the timetable. The sliding gates will allow
access when required for stopping trains such as during engineering works or in
perturbation such as a track blockage or an infrastructure failure on the slow railway
lines.

There are no gates at the access point to platform 2 and 3 at the top of the stairs, to
prevent any unauthorised access to platform 2

In conjunction with concern 5 and the remit to install sliding gates in the gaps
Network Rail advise us that a remit to install fencing and a swing gate like that
installed on Platform 1 has been submitted as a remit as part of a suite of fencing
enhancements across the London North Western Route utilising a funding source
that has become available and it is still in the design and planning stage. We are not
able to give any timescales at present for this work.

| hope this information addresses the concerns that you raised in your report but if |
can be of further assistance, or if you would like further clarification, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator
West Midlands Trains