Signal Passed at Danger - Northern Rail (Neil Hurst as Alex)

Neil Hurst as Alex in this SPAD Awareness film (Signal Passed at Danger) for Northern Rail

[@AndrewG1989]

Great acting. It goes to show how working on the railways can be very dangerous and the risks are always there.

[@jameswells6003]

Well, just seen him in the new Asda Christmas advert, so I guess we know how his disciplinary went.

[@gwrydd]

You realise he’s an actor right?

[@jameswells6003]

@@gwrydd yes, I was taking the p*ss!

[@epscproductions1373]

Haha! Best comment. Shame he’s lost his job then ‘ey!

[@buffplums]

I think it must take some balls to drive a train.

[@flyboy747uk]

Tea without biscuits in a railway interview is never going to go well for you!!!!

[@EM-yk1dw]

You don’t usually get anything and that’s if the DM turns up.

[@megacrab]

Tepid tea and no biscuits = in for a kicking!

[@AminaIqbal-se7py]

Being a driver daughter for so long it has taught me how how cope with stress on the railway through going to the local pub or mixing in with the community has allowed me to help them cope with stress through not getting under there feet and allowing them to come back to a silent home and also sponsoring them for race course driving, snooker a long sunny holiday at Bournemouth or Spain

[@TrenyCwm]

A great actor, another Mark Addy. Seen Neil last night touring The Full Monty at Cardiff, I recognised him from this SPAD video.

[@suchcone]

Great acting! I was rooting for you the whole clip even though I knew it wasn't going to end well.

[@michaelcampin1464]

Ringing a Doctor at 6.45am. No chance of a reply before 8am at earliest

[@HedleyOnTheHill]

im sorry but all I was thinking about was, why did it switch between a class 144 and 142. I know why but still.

[@markgr1nyer]

Wait until you notice the face shots were in the rear cab lol

[@PottersVideos2]

@@markgr1nyer Was the train formed of a 144 and 142 coupled together?

[@jameswells6003]

Where was his Union Rep in the meeting?

[@cjmillsnun]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@MUFCWH7]

What good would a Union Rep do? He was never getting away with this.

[@BassandoForte]

Outlining the case for paternity leave even more...

[@gdwnet]

and the case for staff to be allowed stress or lack of sleep days off.

[@dizzydevil547]

Seriously do folks NOT READ the descriptions before watching videos on YT! ...IT'S A TRANING VIDEO! ITS NOT A REAL INCIDENT Neil is acting paying the part of Alex! some of the comments on here think its real! 🤣

[@alangaming2003]

Nobody were hurt in the making

[@michaelhobbs3426]

This is Alex sad emotion story what happened to him will make people think for their actions and responsibility as a train driver your actions are responsible. Poor guy I feel for him what happened at the Northman line. Though he was at fault he may never drive again. Tried to open his window got distracted was going to fast and should have checked the signals and his speed he was trained even though he was having family issues at the time should not let that affect you. Crashed into the car and the people in it passing a red signal.

[@underwaterdick]

"Should not let that affect you" - Bollocks. Of course you can let it affect you. The difference is, you shouldn't report fit for duty if that is the case. Human factors are not recognised enough in the railway. No human being should have to "switch off" from all their worries, but they should realise when those worries are starting to distract and do the safe thing. Stop. Aviation has learned Human factors though thousands of deaths. Through Hundreds of mistakes made due to these factors. The answer? Employers and employees have to acknowledge that safety comes first. Even if it means a financial cost to the business or inconvenience to the customer. Far cheaper and easier to explain than dead bodies. Employees in safety critical environments should have the ability to say they are not fit. They should not be penalised for doing so, but offered help and assessed as fit before they return to safety critical duties. Nobody can be "trained" to forget all their worries, stresses, health issues or mental state. You can be trained to better deal with and recognise it however, so you know when to say "stop". I have seen a few people use it in aviation, and it made them briefly unpopular, until it was realised that the potential alternative was far worse. Obviously you don't get penalised for it, but if it became a regular thing, actions would have to be taken, obviously starting with a review of whether you needed a break from duties, redeployment or an occupational health referral. Time for the railway to put safety first in recognising Human factors far more.

[@sarahwestwood6665]

In what year did this happen?

[@useless8695]

12:01 apparently ths railway crossing doesnt work up in the north of the UK due to the fact that a railway crossing will always turn on even after SPAD as there should have been a TPWS like temporary isolation/fault, Break Demand and train overide stop

[@robbielawson4828]

In his closing interview he says he cant work because he cant concentrate & that his kids will never hear how he was a good driver.... Clearly concentration was a problem in his former job & how can you claim to be a good driver if you run a red light & trash your loco? That's like the Merseyrail driver who crashed in Kirkby (who was on his mobile phone) saying "I was a good driver you know".

[@Benji_transport_vids]

Wait a second, the video was good and all but, despite the train being a class 142 pacer unit, why did I keep seeing it as a 3 car unit lol

[@job9650]

dw there are some inconsistencies but it's there to be informative, not meant to be factual... there's also a moment where he has no lanyard on, and then ask of a suddn does

[@Benji_transport_vids]

@@job9650 Fair point, mate

[@PottersVideos2]

Isn't it a class 144 and class 142 coupled together?

[@Benji_transport_vids]

@@PottersVideos2 maybe

[@DannHickman-vj5wx]

Why wasn't the interview audio recorded. Like a legal deposition.

[@ANTHONYBOOTH]

he will be a prisoner of his own mind for the rest of his days ...he can go to the highest mountain ..cross the largest oceans ...go to antarctica ...even space! ...he will never escape...

[@djcrass5758]

it is also cheaper for the company if he takes the fall and gets asked to move along without any fuss.

[@colliecandle]

Uumm, NOT 'space' - it doesn't exist ! ( except in the mind )u

[@ANTHONYBOOTH]

@@colliecandle I see where you are coming from on that... in space, we might have colonies ...but never another world...

[@pauljordan4452]

That's why Acceptance and Commitment Therapy benefits.

[@zach.trainspotter1897]

It’s so sad that u can’t drive anymore

[@matthewsmith2787]

The railway should have an automated train protection system, which won’t allow you to SPAD.

[@driverscottie2512]

They explained in the video that only half of the UK network has the TPWS system in place where it slows the train if going to fast. look here for more information on this system. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_Protection_%26_Warning_System

[@underwaterdick]

ATP was developed a long time ago, but BR and the subsequent private firms decided not to bother with it. Too much effort and expense. TPWS was seen as enough.

[@matthewsmith2787]

On the London Underground, if a train passes a red signal the train applies emergency brakes

[@JettisonTheSupreme]

@@matthewsmith2787 that’s a busy system in a highly developed area. The middle of the countryside may well be different.

[@STBYRUD]

It amazes me how backward the UK signaling system is, when the rest of Europe, Germany foremost, has had systems like PZB/Indusi in use in one version or another since 1934!

[@20Jameshall_baby]

how did you do this I am so confused

[@Omegajunior2658]

Oh my god! That what happens you don't pay attention while you're doing, ye know.

[@daveb0789]

Use of risk triggered commentary driving might have helped this driver.

[@brucecohen3001]

This is probably a stupid question but why is the red signal referred to as Danger rather than Stop?

[@modelsteamers671]

The term 'stop signal' is used to refer to an actual signal that is capable of displaying a danger aspect but isn't necessarily showing one at the time. Basically danger refers to the displayed aspect and stop refers to the characteristic of the signal itself.

[@marcus2944]

I believe it's just a british thing. Many other countries, even railway systems originally based on UK practices, just call their stop signals 'Stop'. Funnily enough in new south wales a red signal is called 'Stop', but passing that stop signal without authority is still called a SPAD despite no signal indications in new south wales being called 'Danger'

[@PottersVideos2]

Probably because a signal shows red to signal a danger, a passenger holds up their arm to signal that they'd like the train to stop for them?

[@ClarissaPacker]

That's why U 👀 b4 driving over a train crossing unfortunately so many people DONT. Your not invincible!

[@lolzlolz102]

Most crossings you cannot see down either side.

[@ClarissaPacker]

@@lolzlolz102 I know I live in Michigan a state of hills & forest that's why trains have horns.

[@CycolacFan]

Was this a manned crossing and whomever was operating the gates would have known the signals were red? Otherwise why did the train’s approach not set off the lights and drop the barriers?

[@rogerkearns8094]

Yes, that seemed unrealistic - I didn't think trains stopped for level crossings.

[@PottersVideos2]

The crossing wasn't operational, presumably due to a fault with it.

[@mitchellhurd9300]

Sorry this happened to you. What happened was a terrible accident. That window of the 144 should have been able to open without stuck - you shouldn't have to drive with heat kicking out like that!

[@dizzydevil547]

ermmm its a TRAINING FILM! Neil is acting in it ...seriously does no one ever read the descriptions of vid before or after watching them

[@PottersVideos2]

Shouldn't have had a heater left on in my view, it should be off by default and only switched on by the driver on demand.

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

That red signal was way too close to the level crossing, in real life there must always be an "overlap" or about 220+ meters of track between every signal and an obstruction. This way even if the train does run the red, it still won't hit anything. The only exceptions are reduced overlap working which uses special signals or practices, or where they are de-railers/catch points fitted to stop the train before the obstruction. That level crossing should have gone down in advance of the train approaching so that it is always down even when a train runs a red signal. If the train is supposed to stop before the crossing, it should come down anyway and then go back up once the train is going slow enough - called a super crossing and they are in use. I can obviously understand that this was made to discourage drivers from taking actions to distract them from their primary duties, but SPADs happen way too frequently for even 10% of them to cause accidents like this. Most of the time a SPAD isn't dangerous, because the system was designed with redundancy.

[@modelsteamers671]

Level crossings within the overlap aren't regarded as an obstruction.

[@jameswells6003]

This isn't the case at all - you can legitimately have a signal yards from a crossing.

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

@@jameswells6003 Yes but in that case the crossing ALWAYS goes down before the train approaches the signal - even if the signal is red the crossing still goes down. Once the train stops at the signal, some crossings (super crossings as I called them) can then go back up again, but if there are crossings that close to signals that don't go down if the signal is red, then someone has designed a really bad system. Crossings aren't interlocked with the signalling system, meaning they operate regardless of the state of the signals and operate as such that a train should never cross them unless the gates are closed. There are some crossings in the UK that force the train's signals to remain red until the crossing has been visually inspected as clear, and the gates are closed, but I would imagine that the red signal must be at least 220 metres away from the crossing, and if it's not, then the early signal (that is 220 metres before) will also be red so that even if the train SPADs, it won't go through an open crossing.

[@jameswells6003]

@@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042 that's not the case at all, certainly not at the signal boxes I've worked.

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

@@jameswells6003 Well then you have been working on dangerous sections of track.

[@DoughSpammer-fq1sg]

Emengercy brakes will take atleast 1min or 40sec

[@christianbrown1546]

This is why the DRA and TPWS are important

[@conorfleming6580]

Stupid question; Is a Spad a sackable offence ?

[@droge192]

Only if there's a pattern of repeated incidents, or if a single SPAD incident was due to gross recklessness by the driver. A single SPAD by a driver, accompanied by a reasonable explanation does not lead to a sacking.

[@james-gb3hw]

the crossing gates did not flash and the train that hits the van is a 142

[@aviamonix]

The train is a 144 in some and a 142 in others, the crossing lights not flashing is the issue

[@ChaoDee]

If only SCR emergency brakes are real 💀

[@bobisthegreatest8126]

So true lol

[@MaxLai_0104]

good chance that it'd be worse from the sudden deceleration, worse than a car crashing into a brick wall

[@TheFilipino990]

lol

[@trains774]

Don't worry mate it's happened to me I was driving a 313 drive too fast over speed limit and crashed into the 377

[@MaxLai_0104]

you're saying it like it's nothing

[@trains774]

@MaxWithNoY well it is going to happen it's part of the job most drivers would lose their job but I didn't luckily but the point is it does happen things like this happen soo we just get on with it instead of people I know that has been traumatized about stuff like this but I just get on with it don't let it bother me

[@VermyScrubs]

Ahh the Pacer: We will make a window so trash it’ll distract you from the fact that piece of trash has to stop at a signal!

[@grahamallen1970]

Swapped from 142 to 144 and back again

[@wellingtonnorthjunction3911]

A class 143 shapeshifted into a class 142

[@tldrvince4705]

the worse part about SPADs is having to justify what happened to some jobsworth with a clipboard

[@Steven-qi4gm]

I work on the rail, a few of my friends spad’d and the company did everything they could to support them and get them back on the rail. I wouldn’t call them a jobsworth with a clipboard. Also if you spad they it’s you who have messed up and need more training, so the clipboard person isn’t a jobsworth but actually someone who can help you keep your job.

[@notisgaming8557]

Thats my local line

[@CosgroveNotts]

Collect your cards

[@nicommute7638]

Trains have priority the car was meant to stop the red light was not meant to be there it was meant to be there in case they had made it to the track.

[@PottersVideos2]

False. The level crossing should've been operational. It failed to warn the driver through the use of lights, barriers, and a warbler.

[@nicommute7638]

@@PottersVideos2 so the level crossing wasn’t operational?

[@PottersVideos2]

@@nicommute7638 Correct. It wasn't otherwise the video would've shown the crossing operating with the lights showing, the barriers down, and the warbler sounding.

[@nicommute7638]

Okay makes sense, looking back in the message I made from 8 months ago, I don’t know, plus I’m from Northern Ireland so translink strains are rare as I’m in Fermanagh, we have no trains.

[@EM-yk1dw]

Is this a true story?

[@stephendew]

No it’s not

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

Lucky because that red signal was way too close to the level crossing, in real life there must always be an "overlap" or about 220+ meters of track between every signal and an obstruction. This way even if the train does run the red, it still won't hit anything. The only exceptions are reduced overlap working which uses special signals or practices, or where they are de-railers/catch points fitted to stop the train before the obstruction. That level crossing should have gone down in advance of the train approaching so that it is always down even when a train runs a red signal. If the train is supposed to stop before the crossing, it should come down anyway and then go back up once the train is going slow enough - called a super crossing and they are in use.

[@TheMisterB2u]

No,it's a video compiled by train operating company to show to staff explaining how everyday situations can reflect on their duties.

[@KDRCG]

Good acting, though I do believe this incident would actually be the fault of Network rail and the train operator. The latter since the level crossing lights failed to activate when a train entered their section, this should have happened, regardless of the SPAD, this indicates a failture of trackside infrastrucure, which is the responsibilty of Network Rail. The train operator would be at fault since the drivers hands where both off the controlls for an extended period of time which should have caused the train to Emergency Brake automatically due to the dead mans switch mechanism (this must have been released for some time to account for the distance between the signal and the crossing where the driver was trying to open the window with both hands). Multiple maintanace failures where noted in the cab and if the DMS managed to fail deadly due to poor maintenance, this would be the train operators failure for not sufficiently maintaining their rolling stock. So in conclusion Alex did nothing wrong; Northern Rail and Network Rail would have been primarily at fault for this incident.

[@thomascheer]

That baby she'll not on train

[@Robdc89]

What no tpws on that route? Bullshit, its supposed nationwide. Someone dropped the ball on not having it there.

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

Should either have put his kid up for adoption or got a divorce before it all hit the fan ! ...and to add insult to injury, just for driving a Pacer 😟 In reality, sleep away from home and just return on days off.

[@pauljordan4452]

You're an arsehole for saying that. Even though this is an educational video, they are train drivers who are grandparents!

[@PottersVideos2]

Or requested leave.

[@isleofwighttransport]

TPWS would tripped and stop the train ?

[@BenKata23]

Not installed on every line. More rural sections don’t have it

[@isleofwighttransport]

@@BenKata23 How the bloody how did he get away with that 🤣🤣

[@PottersVideos2]

Not at a signal which doesn't have it fitted.

[@GrumpyMeldrew]

who that bossy woman play by

[@tristan_smh5982]

Those pacers. They aren’t trustful hope you’re ok tho

[@EM-yk1dw]

Nowt wrong with the rail buses , they saved a lot of lines closing and were all cash strapped BR could afford.

[@Scouser89Liverpool22]

@@EM-yk1dw yes right in someways yes they did save lines closing, but they were mainly old freight chassis from late 1970's and leyland bus body, thank god they have been sent to retirement

[@abecoulter8550]

i know this is all staged and acted out, but in reality, one blink one yawn one sneeze even microsleeping you can miss alot

[@BritishRail60062]

Well my question is that why didn't the driver stop the train first and then deal with the stuck window? Another question is that why didn't he check the cab over himself before moving off and openly trusting the other driver? I am not saying he shouldn't trust her but she may have missed something on her checks. Had this been me driving the train, if I couldn't open the cab window. I would have stopped the train first so that I wouldn't have had to worry about the signals because I can then turn my attention to dealing with the stuck window and reporting it in the defect card/book. So what if I am running a few minutes late. I would rather be running late than risking a SPAD and a crash because the passengers would still arrive at their destination safe and sound. He is lucky he didn't die although this is a scenario of what can happen if something goes wrong but the first defence here is to stop the train. Make the signaller aware of the faulty window and that you need to stop to fix it and once the problem is dealt with. Then proceed as normal if its okay to do so. Great acting though and well done.

[@chriswaring5565]

I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING WHY DIDN'T HE SWITCH THE HEATER OFF INSTEAD OF TRYING TO OPEN THE WINDOW ?

[@Croz89]

Then it eats into your idle time at the terminus and you don't get a few minutes to decompress before you've got to drive the next service. Do it enough and you might get quizzed on why you stop the train in the middle of nowhere for something that could have waited until the next station to be fixed. I can see why there would be a lot of pressure not to do that.

[@BritishRail60062]

@@Croz89 With respect, the driver stated that he needed to ventilate the cab as the heater was on when it should not have been and it was cooking his legs with the heat it was throwing out. It would make the cab very stuffy inside. A cosy but dangerous environment to be in when concentration on the tracks is needed. If the signaller called me as to why I slowed down, I would tell him/her the same thing. I needed ventilation to stay awake as the heater was on due a fault and I didn't want to pass out at the desk. That would be my justification to do this to keep my passengers safe.

[@Croz89]

@@BritishRail60062 Indeed I understand, but try explaining that to management when performance targets are nowhere near being hit, and being in the knowledge that you'll have to turn the train right back around at the other end because you're late instead of getting a bit of a breather. It's all right to say what you would do, what you should do if you didn't have those pressures, but that's not how things are.

[@BritishRail60062]

@@Croz89 I agree with you mate. But the management sadly are not the ones in the cab being cooked. My concern is the driver passing out from the heat in the cab. Well if was me and I wasn't allowed my breaks due to the train being faulty. I would go to another operator as I would not lose my licence over poor management that has apathy for its staff.

[@TheFilipino990]

spad

[@pn112upfast]

'I wish I'd hit that cyclist'. Not the mindset of a train driver should have.

[@IssacLHunt]

Cyclist are wankers

[@TheMisterB2u]

Signal passed at danger has trap points which would have derailed train if set!

[@modelsteamers671]

Very few signals have associated trap points.

[@PottersVideos2]

Not at a level crossing, the trap points would be more dangerous than simply letting it hit a car.

[@philclennell]

Never in a million years will they ever show a female driver who's at fault and a male HR employee. Because women are portrayed as faultless and virtuous of course. Odd because these days it's standard practice for institutions to champion minorities. But if it's something bad happening let's not do that because we couldn't possibly show a woman making a fatal error.

[@tldrvince4705]

the system plays these games to protect itself- thats all this virtue signalling is

[@margotrasch5684]

I'm sorry to disappoint you - I don't know if you know the series "The Tube" - there is one part where they showed women drivers - one of them had a SPAD ;)

[@PottersVideos2]

No, I think it's because of allegations of sexism that would result.

[@margotrasch5684]

@@PottersVideos2 Maybe ;)

[@mattevans3014]

Yup, found the Tate simping incel.

[@kyle07871323519]

A spare driver on Northern. Ha!

[@IssacLHunt]

😁😆😅😂12:02 😁😆😅🤣😂