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Girls' railway deaths accidental Girls' railway deaths accidental
(about 3 hours later)
Two teenage girls hit by a train at a level crossing died accidentally, an inquest jury has concluded. The deaths of two teenage girls hit by a train at a level crossing was an accident, an inquest jury has ruled.
Charlotte Thompson, 13, of Thaxted, Essex, and Olivia Bazlinton, 14, of Elsenham, Essex, died at Elsenham station in December 2005.Charlotte Thompson, 13, of Thaxted, Essex, and Olivia Bazlinton, 14, of Elsenham, Essex, died at Elsenham station in December 2005.
The girls were going shopping and crossed for a train to Cambridge on the opposite platform when they stepped into the path of a 70mph train.The girls were going shopping and crossed for a train to Cambridge on the opposite platform when they stepped into the path of a 70mph train.
Jurors returned the verdicts following a four-day hearing at Chelmsford.Jurors returned the verdicts following a four-day hearing at Chelmsford.
The inquest heard from John Rossiter-Summers, who had been driving the Cambridge train with his supervisor, who said he saw Olivia and Charlotte about to cross in front of him as the service pulled into the station. Following the inquest, the fathers of both girls called for a criminal investigation into their deaths.
He said he saw Charlotte put her hand on the pedestrian gate. Charlotte's father, Reg Thompson, said a "whole litany of mistakes and incompetence" had been revealed in the case.
Safety changes 'Never forgotten'
"It looked like she was going to make an attempt to cross in front of me. I sort of made eye contact with her, shook my head and mouthed the words 'don't bother, I'll wait'." Olivia's father, journalist Chris Bazlinton, said: "I think the authorities should look to see whether there is a case for criminal prosecution."
Mr Rossiter-Summers said the Stansted service passed by quickly as he pulled into the station. Network Rail said it would not comment on a call for a criminal investigation.
Rail accident investigator Simon French said analysis of data showed that Elsenham was "one of the highest risk" stations in the UK, the inquest heard. In a statement, company spokesman Chris Rumfitt said: "The deaths of Olivia Bazlinton and Charlotte Thompson were a tragedy, and they will never be forgotten."
He said it was dangerous because nine trains an hour, both slow and fast, pass through, a large number of people use the station and pedestrians have as little as three seconds to get out of the way of a passing train because of the layout of the track. The inquest had been told by rail accident investigator Simon French that analysis of data showed Elsenham to be "one of the highest risk" stations in the UK.
He said it was dangerous because nine trains an hour, both slow and fast, passed through, a large numbers of people used the station and pedestrians had as little as three seconds to get out of the way of a passing train because of the layout of the track.
'Changes made'
But John Tilly, a level crossings expert with Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, said the crossing at Elsenham functioned as it was meant to.But John Tilly, a level crossings expert with Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, said the crossing at Elsenham functioned as it was meant to.
"The crossing worked as it was designed to do," he said. "I could find nothing wrong with the operation at Elsenham." After the inquest Mr Rumfitt added: "We note the verdict of the inquest, and we once again extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the girls.
Network Rail said it planned to change safety arrangements at the station. "Since the tragedy, a number of changes have been made: the train operator has installed a second ticket machine on the far platform; permanent CCTV cameras are in place."
He added that British Transport Police now maintained a higher presence at the crossing and Network Rail had held a local campaign to raise awareness of how to use the crossing safely.
"And, as we expect the number of trains travelling through the crossing to increase in the future, we have recommended a footbridge be installed at the station with a locking system for the wicket gates.
"We are committed to carrying out these measures and are working with the relevant parties to deliver them."