Apparently the safety hammers have been removed from all carriages on all trains because of lessons learned from the Virgin train derailment in February 2007 (BBC - One dead in Cumbria rail crash). The lessons, according to the guard were:
- The hammers will only shatter the windows if they are used to strike fairly small areas of glass in the corners of the windows. Failed attempts to break the glass increase the panic levels.
- Where people do smash the windows, they can put themselves in more danger when they get out onto the track.
All very logical, and I have to say that I was impressed by the professional way that the London Midland staff member dealt with the question.
I'm sure that leaving this hammer behind was an oversight since it would be far too ridiculous to suggest that perhaps London Midland have a touch of the White Star Line view on the importance of looking after the better paying customers (Titanic and First Class passengers supposedly given places in the lifeboats in front of women and children from steerage...)
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I like the White Star theory, but reckon it may just be that the hammers are needed for the glass partition that separates First and Standard class ;-)
ReplyDeleteGood point, though a briefcase or one of the train's fire extinguishers might make a bigger hole quicker!
ReplyDeleteI've just found an old 'tweet' (Twitter message) from @LondonMidland confirming why the hammers are still in the First Class area of the train:
ReplyDelete"@euston commuter Re: your latest blog, those hammers are in place to break the glass on the partition door between first and second glass"
The message was dated 35 days ago and I have no idea where it's been hiding for the last five weeks, but if London Midland do read this then a belated thank you for the information.