Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Hassan Zubair

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0150, written 19 May 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report19 May 2022
Reference2022-0150
DeceasedHassan Zubair
CoronerGraeme Irvine
Coroner areaEast London
CategoryRailway related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Regulation 28:  Prevention of Future Deaths report 

Hassan Zubair (died 2nd December 2021) 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. 

 Chief Executive 

Network Rail 
One Eversholt Street, 
London, 
NW1 2DN 

1  CORONER 

I am: 

Acting Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine 
The Coroner's Court 
127 Ripple Road 
Barking 
IG11 7PB 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, 
paragraph 7, Schedule 5, and  The Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 
2013, regulations 28 and 29. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On  3rd  December  2021,  this  court  commenced  an  investigation  into  the 
death  of  Hassan  Zubair,  The  investigation  concluded  at  the  end  of  the 
inquest on 11th May 2022. I arrived at a narrative conclusion, 

“Mr  Hassan  Zubair  was  declared  deceased  at  14.06  on  2nd  December 
2021  at  Goodmayes  Railway  station  after  he  was 
.  Mr 
Zubair  deliberately 
  at  the  station  but  it  has  not  been 
possible to determine his intentions at the time.” 

The medical cause of death was: 

1.a. Multiple injuries 
2. Alcohol Intoxication 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Goodmayes station consists of four platforms, 1-4. The station is oriented 
east to west, Platform 1 situated to the south, Platform 4 to the north and 
platforms 2 & 3 occupying a central island between the lines. 

At 13:40 on 2 December 2021, Network Rail was made aware of a 
concern for welfare by a report from the driver of train 2W34 staionary at 
Platform 4, who reported seeing a member of the public on Platform 3 of 
Goodmayes station with no shoes on, carrying a blanket. That person 
was later identified as Hassan Zubair. 

The call resulted in two actions; 

1.  At 13:43, the Signaller advised the driver of train 2W59 (the next 
train due into Goodmayes station on the Up Electric line on 
Platform 3) to approach at caution because of a concern for 
welfare. 

2.  The operator of Goodmayes station was contacted to alert staff 

at the station and the local security team of the concern. 

Moments later, Mr Zubair was struck at 13:45 by the 13:33 London 
Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, train 1K50 on the Down Main line 
(
). Critically, this train had received no warning to approach 
with caution and accordingly was travelling at a speed estimated to be 
between 80-85 mph. Mr Zubair was killed instantly. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise 
to concern. In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless 
action is taken. In the circumstances, it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. 

1.  The failure of the signals controller to advise trains travelling through 
 to proceed with caution. 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe 
that your organisation has the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of 
this report, namely by 15th July 2022  I, the coroner, may extend the period. 

Your  response  must  contain  details  of  action  taken  or  proposed  to  be 
taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why 
no action is proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the following. 

The Zubair family. 

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport 
Department for Transport 
Great Minster House 
33 Horseferry Road 
London 
SW1P 4DR 
United Kingdom 

I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. 

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or 
summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he 
believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to 
me,  the  coroner,  at  the  time  of  your  response,  about  the  release  or  the 
publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 

9  DATE 

19th May 2022 

SIGNED BY ACTING SENIOR  CORONER GRAEME  IRVINE

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Network Rail (PDF)
OFFICIAL 

One Stratford Place 
Montfitchet Road 
London 
E20 1EJ 

Acting Senior Coroner Mr Graeme Irvine 

The Coroner's Court 

127 Ripple Road 

Barking 

IG11 7PB 

  12 July 2022 

Reference: Regulation 28 Report – Hassan Zubair 

Dear Senior Coroner Irvine 

Regulation 28 Report – Hassan Zubair 

I refer to your report dated 19 May 2022 made under paragraph 7, schedule 5, of the 
Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners 
(Investigations) Regulations 2013.   

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the family 
of Mr Hassan Zubair on behalf of Network Rail.  I hope from Network Rail's 
participation in the Inquest into Mr Zubair's death that you are aware that we take all 
incidents of this nature on the railway incredibly seriously.   

I have carefully considered the concern raised in your report in respect of the 
signaller not advising trains travelling through both Platforms 2 and 3 to proceed with 
caution.  As was explained during the Inquest into Mr Zubair's death, when the 
concern for welfare report was made by a train driver, Mr Zubair was stood on 
 on a publicly accessible platform, physically 
Platform 3 of 
separated from Platform 2 (which I address below).  I understand that from the CCTV 
footage Mr Zubair was seen walking in the opposite direction from the end of 
Platform 3 towards the station exit.  As a precautionary measure based upon the 
information provided to the Signaller and on their detailed knowledge of the station 
and its layout, a caution was put in place on the line interfacing with Platform 3 where 
Mr Zubair had been observed.  In addition to the caution, timely calls were placed by 
Network Rail to the train operating company staff, MTR, to immediately check on the 
welfare of Mr Zubair.   

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Registered Office: Network Rail, 2nd Floor, One Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN Registered in England and Wales No. 2904587 www.networkrail.co.uk 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 OFFICIAL 

In terms of the layout of the station and its infrastructure, although Platforms 3 and 2 
are back to back, there are a significant number of measures in place to deter 
members of the public from accessing Platform 2, which services non-stopping trains 
and is not generally accessible by the general public.  Most significantly, a metal 
fence physically separates Platforms 3 and 2 to deter access by the public to 
Platform 2.  The fencing mitigated the need to caution trains on Platform 2 because it 
is designed to prevent people from crossing from Platform 3 to Platform 2.  
Therefore, it was reasonable for the Signaller to caution the trains on Platform 3 only. 

In addition, other mitigation measures are in place to deter and/or prevent access by 
members of the public and these include: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

White and yellow lines indicating the edge of the platform and the 'keep 
clear' area respectively; 

Electronic help points; 

Platform end barriers;  

Signs warning against trespass;  

Anti-trespass panels on the ground; 

Samaritans signs in situ; and 

Patrol by nine mobile security teams which specialise in reducing 
antisocial behaviour and suicide prevention that operate on a 24/7-hour 
basis.   

If Mr Zubair had been seen trying to access the track on platform 2, trains which 
would proceed over the affected portion of the line would have been cautioned or 
stopped in accordance with the procedure Network Rail must follow under section 
18.1 of the Rail Safety and Standards Board GERT8000 Rule Book (Rule Book).  A 
copy of section 18.1 of the Rule Book is at Annex 1. As Mr Zubair was seen heading 
towards the exit and we already had a number of mitigation measures in place 
regarding platform 2 (including, in particular, a fence physically preventing access 
from platform 3 to platform 2) a stop or caution was not considered for this line.  

We receive many calls reporting concerns in relation to the welfare of users each day 
and takes many measures to ensure the safety of all individuals using the railway. 
We are also responsible for maintaining the operation of the railway network and the 
safe passage of trains and passengers across the network. Signallers play a huge 
role on this. In response to any welfare report, Signallers will make a decision as to 
the most appropriate action to take based on the nature of the information reported 
and their detailed knowledge of the infrastructure and the location. This is done in 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 OFFICIAL 

accordance with the Rule Book, which purposely provides a degree of flexibility to 
ensure that Signallers are empowered to make appropriate decisions based on all 
factors within their knowledge. 

Following this tragic incident, Network Rail did take action and enhanced the 
reporting system between Network Rail and MTR for Signallers to contact the station 
directly. This allows station staff to provide rapid assistance to individuals in these 
types of situations. Workshops have also been undertaken to train relevant staff.  
Network Rail takes its safety obligations incredibly seriously and we are committed to 
reducing opportunity for members of the public to come to harm on or near the 
railway.  

I hope that this response answers your concerns but if I can be of any further 
assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Yours sincerely 

Route Director,

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