IDS attacks rail firms over station death

FORMER Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith criticised rail companies today for failing to do enough to avoid fatalities and injuries at their stations.

Mr Duncan Smith, speaking after a death at a station in his constituency, said it was "astonishing" the firms had not increased the number of staff on platforms - especially at night - put up clearer warning signs and brought in rules to guarantee passenger safety.

He praised the Evening Standard's Safer Stations campaign which has led to both Silverlink and Chiltern Railways increasing manning, but criticised train firms still to act. The comments by the MP for Chingford and Woodford Green follow the death of a man at Gidea Park Station who was running alongside a train when he slipped and fell onto the tracks.

Simon Slade, 33, was still conscious when he was found 50 minutes later after three more trains had passed through the station near Romford but died in hospital shortly after.

Mr Duncan Smith claimed the platform assistant should have stayed to watch the train pull out and if he had done so would have seen Mr Slade fall or heard his cries. Instead he returned to his cabin as quickly as possible.

The MP criticised the lack of train company rules that would make staff more responsible for safety.