November 21st 2024.
As we approach the busy London Euston station, there are growing concerns about the safety of commuters. This station, which is one of the busiest in the UK, has been criticized by safety campaigners for its dangerous conditions. According to London TravelWatch, last-minute announcements that lead passengers rushing to platforms have caused overcrowding and put passengers at risk. This assessment is supported by the Office for Rail and Road, which issued a warning to Network Rail last year after observing three incidents of concern. The regulator cited the unacceptable number of people and lack of crowd control, which resulted in injuries. It's clear that urgent action needs to be taken to address these issues.
In response to these concerns, campaigners have emphasized the need for more to be done to improve safety at Euston. They have also warned that if immediate action isn't taken, the station will continue to pose a risk to passengers. Gareth Dennis, a rail engineer, was fired from his job after publicly speaking out about his safety concerns at Euston. This incident has raised questions about the problems at Euston and what can be done to address them.
One of the main issues at Euston is the overcrowding in the concourse and outside the station. Footage from the busy station regularly shows passengers crammed in, and when trains are delayed or cancelled, multiple passengers rush to get a spot on a later service. This creates chaotic and potentially dangerous situations. After receiving an improvement notice from the Office of Rail and Road last year, Network Rail acknowledged that the outdated station has caused discomfort and unpleasant conditions for passengers. They also acknowledged the need for a major reconstruction of the station. However, they did not use the word "unsafe." Instead, they proposed addressing "pinch-points" and creating more concourse space, as well as improving the reliability of infrastructure and train services to reduce disruptive events at the station. It seems that Network Rail has complied with the notice, and the matter has been resolved.
However, the question remains: what happened when a rail engineer spoke out about the safety concerns at Euston? In April 2024, Gareth Dennis, an engineer working for a Network Rail supplier, gave an interview to the Independent, where he stated that Euston was not just uncomfortable and unpleasant, but also unsafe. This created a stir, and Lord Hendy, a senior figure in the rail industry, wrote a letter to Mr. Dennis' boss, expressing concern about his claims. Lord Hendy described the accusation as serious and stated that it could reflect adversely on Mr. Dennis' employer when working with clients. As a result, Mr. Dennis was eventually fired from his "dream job," which caused him to suffer from depression and anxiety.
Recently, Lord Hendy apologized to Mr. Dennis for the language he used in the letter, stating that it fell short of what should be expected. However, Mr. Dennis believes that this apology was only to calm the supply chain and not genuine. He emphasizes the need for a full and frank apology to reverse some of the damage caused. It's worth noting that Lord Hendy is rumored to be retiring at the end of the year. Mr. Dennis has also highlighted the safety concerns raised by the disabled community and how they cannot be ignored or dismissed. He believes that the culture of the railway industry needs to change, and safety should not be overlooked until a serious incident occurs. These concerns are especially critical when considering the large number of passengers that Euston serves daily. It's time for the government to come up with a long-term plan to address the capacity problems at Euston and ensure the safety of all passengers.
As travelers rush through London Euston, one of the UK's busiest train stations, safety campaigners are once again raising concerns about the potential dangers that commuters face. According to London TravelWatch, last-minute announcements and high levels of overcrowding are putting passengers in harm's way.
This assessment comes after the Office for Rail and Road issued a warning to Network Rail in October of last year, citing three incidents of concern. The regulator highlighted the unacceptable number of people and the lack of crowd control, resulting in injuries. Metro spoke to campaigners who stressed the need for urgent action to be taken to ensure the safety of passengers at Euston.
Gareth Dennis, a rail engineer, was dismissed from his job after publicly expressing his concerns about Euston's safety. So, what exactly are the problems at this busy station? Well, footage from Euston often shows passengers crammed into the concourse and outside, with people frantically dashing to the platforms when trains are announced. In cases where trains are delayed or cancelled, passengers for multiple trains rush to secure a spot on a later service.
After receiving an improvement notice from the Office of Rail and Road, Network Rail admitted that the outdated station has created uncomfortable and unpleasant conditions for passengers. They also acknowledged the need for a major reconstruction of the station. However, they did not use the word "unsafe" to describe the situation. Network Rail's proposed solution includes targeting "pinch-points" and creating more concourse space, as well as improving the reliability of infrastructure and train services to reduce disruptive events at the station. The notice was resolved in December, according to Network Rail.
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However, what happened when rail engineer Gareth Dennis spoke out about Euston's safety concerns? In April 2024, he gave an interview to the Independent, stating that Euston was not just uncomfortable and unpleasant, but also unsafe. His boss at Systra UK, Nick Salt, received a letter from Lord Hendy, who described Mr. Dennis' claims as a serious allegation for a safety-critical business. Lord Hendy also mentioned that such criticism could negatively impact their business with Network Rail.
Although the issues were already public knowledge, Mr. Dennis' employer Systra faced pressure from Lord Hendy. In internal emails shared by Mr. Dennis, Lord Hendy asked the Network Rail team how they dealt with him. Now, Gareth Dennis, who recently published a book called "How the Railways Will Fix the Future," is calling for a long-term plan from the government to address the capacity problems at Euston.
Unfortunately, this engineer's dream job was taken away from him, and he now suffers from depression and anxiety. Two weeks ago, Lord Hendy apologized for the tone of his letter, saying that no contractor has or will be penalized for employees raising safety concerns. He also mentioned that employment matters are the responsibility of the employers. However, Mr. Dennis believes that Lord Hendy's apology was only meant to appease the supply chain and not a genuine expression of regret. He believes that only a full and frank apology can undo the damage that has been done.
It is important to note that Lord Hendy might be retiring at the end of the year. Mr. Dennis explained that with thousands of people traveling on each train, delays and cancellations can quickly pile up, resulting in a large number of people gathering in a concourse that is not equipped to handle such crowds. He also highlighted the concerns of the disabled community, who have described Euston as unsafe. He believes that this issue cannot be ignored or dismissed and reflects the culture of the railways and its leadership. He finds it frustrating that it takes safety incidents unrelated to accessibility for the industry to focus on this important issue.
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