Kevin Sherwood

Geoffrey Sullivan

NetworkRail
reas

Route Managing Director LNE&EM

HM Senior Coroner for Hertfordshire — Rail
i , loor 4B
Area of Hertfordshire Coroner's Office Georpe Stephenson House
The Old Courthouse Toft Green
St Albans Road East York
Hatfield YO1 6JT
Hertforshire
AL10 OES
~—s PY
Dear Sir,

Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths — Kevin Phillip Sherwood

| refer to your report dated 11™ September 2018 made under paragraph 7, schedule 5, of the
Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations)
Regulations 2013.

On behalf of all at Network Rail, | would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere
condolences to the family of Mr Sherwood.

As you noted in your report Mr Sherwood died as the result of Severe Multiple Injuries
sustained when he was struck by a train on the railway near Hitchin on 20" February 2018.
The conclusion at the end of the inquest on 6" September 2018 was Suicide.

| detail below Network Rail’s considered response to the matter of concern raised in your
report.

Network Rail’s Fencing Standard

In accordance with its legal obligations, Network Rail implements a mandatory fencing
standard NR/L2/TRK/5100 Issue 2 (2008) - Management of Fencing and other Boundary
Measures, which applies to all Network Rail controlled infrastructure (a copy of this document
can be provided if required).

The purpose of the Fencing Standard is to specify the boundary management measures

commensurate with assessed risks posed by the adjacent environment and the railway, and
to incorporate a method of assessing these risks.

Network Rail infrastructure Limited Registered Oftice: Network Rail, One Eversholt Street, London, NW/1 2DN Registered in England and Wales No. 2904587 www networkraill co.uk

To comply with the standard, annual inspections are undertaken, noting and scoring against
stipulated criteria:

1) Likelihood of unauthorized access (Risk score 1-4)
2) Consequence of unauthorized access (Risk score 1-4)
3) Condition of existing boundary (Rating score 0, 2 or 4)

Low scores = Low risk

The overall risk score is derived using the equation:

Risk = (Likelihood x Consequence) + Condition
The overall risk score informs the boundary management measures that are appropriate for
the given location.

Fencing in the Ickneild Way, Hitchin area

At the time of the incident the boundary measure in the Ickneild Way, Hitchin area had been
assessed as 3 (Likelihood) x 3 (Consequence) + 0 (Condition) = 9 and, as such, deemed
medium risk. The class 3 (1.4m high) boundary measure on both sides of the track was
installed twelve years ago. The inspection prior to the incident on 15" February 2018
recorded the fence as ‘good condition’ and regarded as compliant to the Fencing Standard.

As a result of this incident, the site was re-assessed (in line with the Fencing Standard) and
the likelihood score increased from 3 to 4 as there was now “recorded evidence of trespass
or vandalism within the last twelve months”. The consequence score was also increased
from 3 to 4 as a result of the increase in numbers of trains through this section of railway.
The revised score, therefore, became 4 (Likelihood) x 4 (Consequence) + 0 (Condition) = 16.

The mitigation for the increased risk score is a requirement to increase the frequency of
inspection from annual to three monthly. The standard also requires that, at the point where
the current fence becomes life expired, it will be replaced by a class 1 (1.8m high) fence. A
fence line may be renewed prior to life expiry in some circumstances due to operational
requirements or route enhancement projects (subject to funding).

Renewal of the fencing in the Inckneild Way, Hitchin area is currently scheduled for
2019/2020. In the meantime the fencing remains compliant with our Fencing Standard, and
will continue to be monitored via three-monthly inspections.

Further Suicide Prevention Work

Network Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP), together with Train Operating
Companies, are working together to actively mitigate against suicidal intent along the line of
route from Peterborough to Kings Cross and Bedford to St Pancras (which includes Hitchin),
together known as the Thameslink route.

Specifically, Platform End Anti-trespass measures have been added to Hitchin Station to
deter access on to the track. In addition to existing Mobile Operations staff who patrol the
area, the Route has been supported by BTP Emergency Interventions Units and BTP
Embedded Inspectors. Network Rail has also introduced a team of ‘roving patroliers’ whose
focus is suicide prevention on this line of route and providing rapid response to incidents. We
continue to work closely with industry partners to prevent loss of life in the Hitchin area as
part of our strategy for the Thameslink route.

| hope this response answers your concerns but if | can be of further assistance, or if you
would like further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Route Managing Director LNE&EM
Network Rail