Driver Speaks Out
21 Jul 2005
Train driver Andy Scott has vowed to help stop trespass fatalities, after his train hit two boys at Five Arches Bridge, Darlington, County Durham.
Stuart Adams, 15 and Lee Mullis, 14, both died in the accident. Mr. Scott, a Northern Rail driver, was driving a Transpennine Express from Manchester Airport to Newcastle. Both teenagers were killed instantly.
Mr. Scott plans to visit schools and youth organisations to speak about the dangers of trespassing on the railway. “I want to do anything I can to get the message across. I will go into schools to educate these kids and help to make them realise how dangerous the railways are. There are so many hidden factors on the railways, even trained people get caught out.”
Stuart’s father, Trevor Adams, said, “We feel for this man. He has gone through such a traumatic time. I know if he had been able to swerve out of the way, he would have done. We have to make sure this doesn’t happen again. He will get the message across better than the police, better than the authorities - the kids will have to listen.”
The train had just left Darlington and was travelling at about 50 or 60 mph - accelerating up to its top speed of 90 mph when the accident happened. Railway staff have repeatedly warned that trespassers often do not have time to jump out of the way of a train, once they have seen it.
As the summer holidays approach, Network Rail and train companies across Britain are redoubling their efforts to talk to children. Staff across the network will be visiting schools and demonstrating the inherent dangers of the railway.
Mr. Scott has volunteered to help. Mr. Scott’s first day back at work was the day of Stuart and Lee’s funeral. “I will never be able to get the scene out of my mind. I can still picture it now and I think about it every day. I just want to highlight how dangerous trespassing on the railway line can be.”
Northern Rail’s communications manager, Howard Keal, said “It is massively to his credit that he is determined to do whatever he can to prevent another unnecessary death on the tracks. A fatality is incredibly traumatic for any driver, some of them never manage to get behind the controls of a train again. Our hearts go out to the family whenever something like this happens.”
Carolyn Watson, a Network Rail spokeswoman, said, “One of the most important messages we give when talking about railway safety, is the wide range of people who can be affected when anyone commits a crime on the railway. It is a brave decision to face the distress of what happened in order to help prevent more lives being lost and we very much welcome and support the stand he has decided to take.”