Last Thursday night, October 9th, my wife and I were returning to Wimbledon at 10pm on a tube train. As we walked along the platform at Wimbledon a young lady near us fell over and gashed her head badly on the platform.

While my wife tended to her I headed up the stairs to find a member of staff and some first aid. I found neither as unbelievably there were no staff on duty! I returned to my wife and the young lady, who was badly shaken and in a lot of pain with a head wound that was bleeding profusely. The driver of the tube train apologised for not being able to do much as he had to drive his train but he did phone the South West trains office. There was no guard on his train which was a surprise to me whilst another tube worker was unable to help as he was off to work at Earls Court.

Eventually a South West Trains employee arrived with no first aid and all he could offer was to ask us whether we should call an ambulance. We weren't sure about this and thought it best that we drove the still distressed young lady home to Putney where her Aunt and sister could make a decision. This we did.

The following morning there were numerous staff on duty at the station and one confirmed that there were none there after 9.30pm.

We think this is utterly scandalous and a clear case of South West Trains putting profit before passenger safety. I was also told that the management were still intent on getting rid of guards on their trains.

I think the moral from all this is either don't travel by South West Trains if you are feeling poorly or give the franchise to a company who does care about its passengers. Better still take it back into public ownership.

Mark and Anne Kenny

via email

 


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