Fiona Grey, 33, from Alexandria, Dumbarton, was identified from her dental records. Amongst the dead was technician Michael Newman whose glittering theatre signs for shows such as ' Cats ', ' Singing in the Rain' and ' Phantom of the Opera ' earned him the nickname, " the man who brought the West End to light ." London. A second service was also held at the memorial site, which was attended by train drivers and representatives of their union, Aslef. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. He recommended a reduction in working hours (staff had been working every day for weeks which inevitably leads to fatigue). The Duchess of York arrives for the memorial service, The Bishop of Winchester told the congregation: We mourn the loss of men and women cut off in the prime of their lives.. Ms Robinson went on to join Disaster Action to help other people affected by tragedies like the one she experienced. JACKY Harris was the Mayor of Bournemouth when the Clapham rail disaster occurred and immediately made it her priority to help in whatever way she could. Ola Bratlie, a 26-year-old telecommunications engineer. The names of those who died are set out at Appendix A. After that impact the first train veered to its right and struck a third oncoming train. Bosses from the emergency services and rail industry representatives also attended memorial events. View our online Press Pack. He was married with two children. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. 25 years since triple train crash that killed 35 people They were: Brian Cooper: "Kind and. One of the simplest changes was that any wire which was not terminated on a terminal had to have a special insulated crimp on the end. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. You just dont anticipate something like this happening on your own doorstep, it was one of those unbelievable moments. I went to work the next day and burst out in tears as I was decorating the room. An independent inquiry chaired by Anthony Hidden, QC found that the signalling technician responsible had not been told that his working practices were wrong, and his work had not been inspected by an independent person. 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Latest Documents Simon Wood, 40, a project worker for a charity working with homeless children, of Liss, BBC NEWS | UK | The 31 victims identified Sure I could cut out some of the Information that is a bit laborious (Like a description of the Relay Room,, the Trains that passed the Signal previously I'd say could have been removed almost entirely) but the rest of it I'd say was completely fair. The driver of a fourth train approaching the crash site saw the wreckage and managed to come to a stop behind the other two trains at the signal which should have stopped the train to protect them. He had been returning home for the birthday of one of his two young sons. After hugging Ms Cotton at the wreath-laying event in Spencer Park, Battersea, Ms Robinson said: "When these things happen to you, you have a choice. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Michael Newman, from Canford Cliffs, was a designer for the West End productions of Cats and Phantom of the Opera. Only trained members of the Signal Engineers could carry out signalling alterations and a new system of grading was implemented such that a new junior technician could not carry out or manage a complex scheme). On This Day: Clapham Junction rail crash kills 35 people [24], Testing was mandated on British Rail signalling work[25] and the hours of work of employees involved in safety-critical work was limited. What was the outcome of the investigation? However, he was told there was nothing wrong with the signal at this point the Bournemouth train struck the back of the Basingstoke train at around 40mph. 30 years ago, just before 7.20am on the chilly morning of Monday December 12th 1988, the characteristic sound of doors slamming shut on an old-style British Rail train echoed along the platform at Basingstoke station as hundreds of commuters crammed into a service bound for LondonWaterloo. Devastation: the scene at Clapham Junction in 1988 where 35 people died, Chaos: firefighters, paramedics and police search for survivors (Picture: PA), You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. He was from Gavdik in Marilyn Robinson, 73, escaped the wreckage of the Basingstoke train with relatively minor injuries. Wreaths have been laid and a minute's silence held to remember the 35 people killed in a train crash in south London 30 years ago. I will never forget that day or my friend who didnt survive. I was severely injured in the crash, trapped for 2 1/2 hours, lost a limb and had multiple other internal and external injuries. The Poole train then veered and hit an empty oncoming train. Police were continuing to check his personal details, such as age and address, Dr Knapman added. He was to have celebrated his birthday on Sunday. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. 8.09am: The driver of the 7.18am Basingstoke to Watereloo train notices a signal near Clapham Junction change suddenly from green to red. On the day Mr Gillon, now 71, was travelling from Hampshire in the third carriage of the London-bound Bournemouth train. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Clapham Junction rail crash 1988: Events remember the dead In that incident, a pair of redundant points had been left in an unsafe condition and undetectable by the signalling system. However some were so badly injured that they required emergency procedures at the scene. John Bowis, who was the MP for Battersea at the time, said he drove to the "awful scene of carnage" as soon as he heard the news. Rip Jane. Mrs Ship said: "Dad was a train driver and was in the train cab travelling to work as he knew the driver.". Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a church service. Alison had moved to London three years previously and was travelling back from Southampton after a sailing weekend with her boyfriend. He created the new human rights and equality commission in the province. Lee Middleton a survivor on the Bournemouth train- described the moment: I heard a deafening noise and then all hell let loose. Clapham Junction rail crash 1988: Events remember the dead This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. British Rail area manager John Curley said: He was one of the best drivers we have had in Bournemouth and was a very highly skilled tradesman.. 22 Clapham Junction Rail Crash Premium High Res Photos A small congregation gathered near the site of the accident at Clapham Junction rail station this morning and observed a two-minute silence. We're looking for people affected by the #Clapham train crash ahead of an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the disaster in which 35 people lost their lives. A charity named in her memory has since given 80,000 disabled people the chance to sail on Southampton Water. He needed a bone graft and had nine months off work. Footage found on a VHS. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please (Getty Images) At 8.13am on 12 December 1988, three trains collided in south London in one of the UK's worst rail disasters. Survivors had to be cut out of the tangled carriages before being transferred to St Georges Hospital in Tooting. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The train drivers' union Aslef held a separate wreath-laying event and two-minute silence at the Spencer Park memorial at 08:13, to mark the exact moment the crash happened. Jenny Carmichael, 22, a bar worker from the Tap and Spile pub in Newbury. Today, a simple ceremony at 8.13am the time of the collision was due to remember them. Read about our approach to external linking. To make matters even worse a third train tore into the area moments later, smashing into the already tangled wreckage. I phoned his parents when I heard of the crash and they gave me the sad news that he had been on the train. A two-minute silence has been held to remember 35 people who died in the Clapham rail crash 25 years ago. Stephen Loader, 34, was on the way to his job as a personnel manager at Global Bank. Derek Antonowitz, a 25-year-old South Africa-born computer consultant from Willesden This document was kindly sourced from Library Service and is in our Accident inquiry documents collection. . --5.66.251.219 (talk) 00:52, 29 August 2016 (UTC)Reply[reply], I posted, but I am unable to add References as of yet due to being busy. About 70 people suffered horrific injuries as the front section of the moving train was ripped open and completely destroyed. Witnesses said they saw carriages thrown into the air and come crashing back down onto the tracks. Hidden was critical of the health and safety culture within British Rail at the time, and his recommendations included ensuring that work was independently inspected and that a senior project manager be made responsible for all aspects of any major, safety-critical project such as re-signalling work. [30], The Basingstoke train stopped at the next signal after the faulty signal, in accordance with the rule book. This document was published on 27th September 1989 by His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. 12/12/1988 - Channel 4 - Clapham Junction Rail Crash - YouTube A 1978 British Rail Southern Region report had concluded that due to the age of the equipment the re-signalling was needed by 1986. To those nearby, it sounded like a bomb had gone off. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. This section of the Channel 4 news finds Peter Sissons updating viewers on the day's tragic events at the Clapham Junction rail crash. can treat patients for minor ailments but for more complex problems the patient must be referred to a consultant. Moments later, an empty train heading away from London crashed into the wreckage. Talk:Clapham Junction rail crash. Unable to stop at the signal, he stopped his train at the next signal and then reported to the signal box by means of a line-side telephone. I'll try and make a better article soon-ish and get it to be relatively shorter then my previous attempt. British Rail was fined 250,000 for violations of health and safety law over the crash which has been described as the worst train accident of recent times. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. An independent inquiry into the crash was set up by the Department of Transport, chaired by Anthony Hidden QC. Wreaths have been laid and a minute's silence held to remember the 35 people killed in a train crash in south London 30 years ago. Lee Middleton, then a 39-year-old father of two, had caught the train at Brockenhurst that morning. What if. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The scene near Clapham Junction Station following the rush hour rail crash on December 12, 1988, An injured man is helped to safety following the worst rain crash in recent times, The scene of the train crash as emergency services moved in, The trains involved were the 07:18 from Basingstoke to London Waterloo and the 06:30 from Bournemouth, Two mourners embrace at the scene at 8.13am - the time of the crash - on the 10th anniversary of the disaster, New video reveals scale of Tube strike mayhem at Clapham Junction, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Compliments. On 12 December 1988 the 07:18 from Basingstoke to London Waterloo, a crowded 12-car train made up of four-car 4VEP electric multiple units 3033, 3119 and 3005, was approaching Clapham Junction when the driver saw the signal ahead of him change from green ("proceed") to red ("danger"). Bosses from the emergency services and rail industry representatives also attended memorial events. The Clapham Junction railway crash occurred on the morning of 12 December 1988, when a crowded British Rail passenger train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped at a signal just south of Clapham Junction railway station in London, England, and subsequently sideswiped an empty train travelling in the opposite direction. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Please enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Editors' Code of Practice. Bill Webb, a 39-year-old accountant, died on an operating table after the accident. It also recommended that automatic train protection (ATP) be installed across the UK rail network. Genealogy Cyril Elliott, 41, a married management consultant from Beckenham, Kent, was identified from his dental records. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, report last month found lessons learned in the disaster were being "forgotten", Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8. A crowded passenger train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped at a signal, and an empty train, travelling in the other direction, crashed into the debris. Thank you for sharing those memories Pete. They are well-written and thoroughly researched. [32] A year later, a report into a collision at London Waterloo highlighted similar circumstances, saying that "some of the lessons from the 1988 Clapham Junction accident are fading from the railway industry's collective memory". Please see this explanation for further details. I was in London a couple of months before this happened, and knew nothing about it. He had also performed the work during his 13th consecutive seven-day workweek. After hugging Ms Cotton at the wreath-laying event in Spencer Park, Battersea, Ms Robinson said: "When these things happen to you, you have a choice. The Thames train driver, Michael Hodder, 31, a married father of two from Reading, Berks, was identified by his dental records. There was a public inquiry chaired by Lord Justice Hidden. List name. [], This is an amazing piece of work. Amidst the chaos, the walking wounded were able to tell some of the story. Here is what happened that fateful morning of December 12, 1988. God bless you Richard, rest in peace .. All I can remember is dust and debris as youve never experienced it in your life.. A London-bound commuter train, travelling from Bournemouth, crashed into the back of another service near Clapham Junction. Please report any comments that break our rules. An inquiry promised by Mrs Thatcher was soon underway. Hi I visited my sister the night before because of this she decided not to take that train but our late friend Jane did. Two memorials were held to remember those who lost their lives. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Ms Robinson went on to join Disaster Action to help other people affected by tragedies like the one she experienced. He lived with his fiancee in Fulham, south-west London. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. in Lexden, Colchester, Essex. He had been on his way to new job in the City. The full report in November said the direct cause of the accident was faulty wiring by signals technician Brian Hemingway. British Rail was eventually fined 250,000 for health and safety violations relating to the crash, which left a further 500 people injured. Rescue was hampered because the railway was in a cutting, with a metal fence at the top and a wall at the bottom of a wooded slope. The crash had the fourth highest death toll of any UK rail disaster since 1948. Thank you for sharing. Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a church service. Married caretaker Robert Cotton, 41, of Rednock School, Dursley, Gloucestershire, who also worked as a local councillor. [33], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}512726N 01028W / 51.4571N 0.1744W / 51.4571; -0.1744, View of the crash site and clean up operations following the accident, Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, "On This Day, 12 December 1988: 35 dead in Clapham rail collision", "Changes in Working Hours Safety Critical Work", "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter", "Serious irregularity at Cardiff East Junction 29 December 2016", "Collision at London Waterloo 15 August 2017", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clapham_Junction_rail_crash&oldid=1132102074, This page was last edited on 7 January 2023, at 07:37. There were also changes in the way staff were trained and how signalling alterations were actioned and recorded. Further Reading one week before the crash. A third empty train later ran into the wreckage killing some passengers who had survived the first crash. Faulty wiring and an incorrect signal caused the 1988 crash at Clapham Junction Wreaths have been laid and a minute's silence held to remember the 35 people killed in a train crash in south. Hampshire. It remains the worst mainline train crash in terms of fatalities in the last 56 years. Dad who got trapped inside indoor adventure centre cave dies from his injuries, Britain's Got Talent audience member shares secret of Noodle the cat's audition, Brit MasterChef Australia host dies aged 46 as Gordon Ramsay leads tributes, I once wrote 7 songs in 4 hours for heartbreaking reason, says Ed Sheeran, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Clapham Junction rail crash memorial - Virtual Globetrotting I had been in the London Ambulance Service for over eight years when this happened. Wiltshire. Neil Dowse, 39, a sheet metal worker who worked in Slough but The Poole train then veered and hit an empty oncoming train. Read about our approach to external linking. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you so much for flagging down my virtual cab. For the next forty minutes the train rattled along without incident. Your email address will not be published. 7.27pm: A Weymouth-bound express hits a concrete mixer left by vandals on the line near Parkstone station. We were getting thrown around the carriage like rag dollsI heard crying and moaning I thought it was curtains for me., Lee found himself pinned beneath the wreckage, his gaze forced towards the clear winter sky which had been exposed after the carriage roof was, as another survivor put it, split open like a ripe tomato.. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. He was identified from his clothing and documents. Thank you, LondonCabbie! As a result, the technician who carried out the work had done so on voluntary overtime. That was and is the aim of this Investigation. The purpose of this Investigation was not to look for one simple, single solution to account for the tragedy but to seek to establish both the immediate and the underlying causes of the accident and all the circumstances attending it. He had started a new job in Slough On the day, two commuter trains, carrying an estimated 1,300 passengers between them, collided just outside the station. Roger Brown, 44, of Isle of Dogs, east London, a software engineer. [5], An initial internal investigation showed that a wiring fault meant that the signal would not show a red danger aspect when the track circuit immediately in front of the signal was occupied. The first thing I saw was legs with jeans and shoes on. Memorial held to mark Clapham rail disaster 25th anniversary As the train from Basingstoke was approaching Clapham Junction, the driver saw the signal ahead of him change from green ("proceed") to red ("danger"). south-east London. [16] The re-wiring had been done a few weeks previously, but the fault had only developed the previous day when equipment had been moved and the loose and uninsulated wire had created a false feed to a relay. 8.13am: The Bournemouth train ploughs into the back of the Basingstoke train at around 50mph. Her mum Muriel said then: She was a very gregarious girl and had masses of friends.. The 'Hidden Report' into the causes of the collision south of Clapham Junction on December 12 1988, in which 35 people died. Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a . But 11 years later, I was in the first ambulance to arrive at the Labdroke Grove Train Crash. Muthulingam Thayaparan, 26, of Tooting, south-west London. Clapham train crash On 12 December 1988 the 07:18 from Basingstoke to London Waterloo was approaching Clapham Junction when the driver saw the signal. kegworth air crash victims nameshow much did stan kroenke buy the rams for; . It was only by sheer fortune that a fourth train managed to stop in time just yards from the carnage. He had been working seven days a week for 13 weeks. Amongst the dead was technician Michael Newman whose glittering theatre signs for shows such as Cats, Singing in the Rain and Phantom of the Opera earned him the nickname, the man who brought the West End to light.. Anthony Beeton, 47, married with two children, a civil servant with the Northern Ireland Office who had helped draft the Good Friday Agreement. We started pulling people out through the window.. Read about our approach to external linking. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Although many of the Hidden report's 93 recommendations were acted on, a rail accident report last month found lessons learned in the disaster were being "forgotten". [10] The last casualty was taken to hospital at 13:04 and the last body was removed at 15:45. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Clapham Junction rail crash article.