Adam Connelly
PFD Report
Partially Responded
Ref: 2015-0284
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The low height of walls accessing a railway footbridge allowed easy public access to tracks, creating a significant risk of future fatalities that Network Rail needs to address.
View full coroner's concerns
During the inquest evidence was heard that: On the 9th March 2015 Mr Connelly was seen to leave his home address in Tyldesley at around 8pm. His subsequent actions are not known until tragically he was found deceased by the side of the railway tracks, at around 7am on the 10th March; Following a thorough investigation by the British Transport Police it is believed that it is most Mr Connelly had gained access to the railway tracks by climbing over the wall of the steps leading to the footbridge 57 , which was near to where his body was found; The evidence given at the inquest was that this footbridge and the access to it, namely the steps and the walls, are owned by Network Rail_
iii. of the British Transport Police gave evidence that the wall of these steps is approximately 5 feet in height and that & person of reasonable athletic ability would be able to climb over the wall onto the railway tracks: There are identical steps on the other side of the footbridge with a public footpath or track running along each side of the railway line and the bridges:
iv. gave evidence that there was a risk of public access to the railway track at this section due to the height of the wall and that to reduce the risk of future fatalities, it would be beneficial if action was taken to restrict access to the railway track at this location explained that due to the steps wall is easily accessible and he was able to climb over wall several times during his investigation. It was explained that the bridge itself had a wall of approximately 8 feet in height which would be extremely difficult to climb over 2_ I have concerns with regard to the following: Due to the height of the walls of the steps which are used to access footbridge 57 on the railway line between Walkden and Atherton train stations, a person of reasonable athletic ability could gain access to railway track; which could lead to future fatalities at this location on the railway likely the the the
iii. of the British Transport Police gave evidence that the wall of these steps is approximately 5 feet in height and that & person of reasonable athletic ability would be able to climb over the wall onto the railway tracks: There are identical steps on the other side of the footbridge with a public footpath or track running along each side of the railway line and the bridges:
iv. gave evidence that there was a risk of public access to the railway track at this section due to the height of the wall and that to reduce the risk of future fatalities, it would be beneficial if action was taken to restrict access to the railway track at this location explained that due to the steps wall is easily accessible and he was able to climb over wall several times during his investigation. It was explained that the bridge itself had a wall of approximately 8 feet in height which would be extremely difficult to climb over 2_ I have concerns with regard to the following: Due to the height of the walls of the steps which are used to access footbridge 57 on the railway line between Walkden and Atherton train stations, a person of reasonable athletic ability could gain access to railway track; which could lead to future fatalities at this location on the railway likely the the the
Responses
Action Planned
Network Rail will install shorter palisade pales and raise the height of the stepped parapet with engineering brick. The works are expected to be completed by the end of October 2015. (AI summary)
Network Rail will install shorter palisade pales and raise the height of the stepped parapet with engineering brick. The works are expected to be completed by the end of October 2015. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Madam Inquest touching the death of Adam Lee Connelly write in response to your report dated 17 July 2015 concerning the inquest into the death of Adam Lee Connelly who sadly died when he was struck by a train and was found at the side of the railway tracks on 10 March 2015. report outlined your concern that: "Due to the height of the walls of the steps which are used to access footbridge 57 on the railway line between Walkden and Atherton train stations, a person of reasonable athletic ability could access to the railway track which could lead to future fatalities at this location on the railway. You considered that urgent action should be taken to prevent future deaths and wrote to Network Rail as the party with the power to take action: wish to assure you that safety is a core value for Network Rail. We are committed to continuously seeking to reduce risk and improve safety across the railway network. We will always seek to learn all the lessons we can tragedies such as the death of Mr Connelly: thought it may be helpful to provide some detail in respect of the bridge structure and measures we currently have in place to prevent entry onto the operational infrastructure: The bridge is estimated to have been constructed around 1900. It is a 30m single span which carries a footbridge over two non-electrified lines. The main span is supported from two engineering brick and stone masonry stair trestles. Network Rall Infrastructure Limlted Registered Offke: Network Rall, Znd Floor, One Everholt Street London; ZDN Reglstcred In England and Wales No. 2904587 wunetworkrail co,uk Your gain from NwI
NetworkRail On the structure itself a parapet 1.4
1.5m high is in place to prevent access from the upper and lower flights of the downside stair trestle. There are 2m high trussesledge beams on the bridge deck to prevent access_ palisade fence approximately 1.8m high is in position on both sides of the track on either side of structure The bridge is not known to Network Rail as being used by members of the public to access to infrastructure_ However; as a consequence of this event, can confirm that we intend to undertake the following works: Lower Flight install shorter palisade pales to connect into the existing boundary fence line. The additional pales are to be installed flush with the internal face of existing parapet and will raise the overall height of the parapet to a minimum of and Upper Flight raise the height of the stepped parapet with engineering brick, capped with bull nose units to remove the potential to scale the wall at this level and climb down behind the lower flight palisade up stand. We expect to have completed the works by the end of October 2015.The time frame for undertaking the works is driven by site access which is extremely limited due to the remote location of the structure. The materials required will have to be delivered by rail under possession (i.e. closure of the railway) and installed lineside during the week hope that this response provides you with adequate information and assurance that the issues you have identified have been properly considered and are being addressed: If can be of further assistance_ Or ifyou would like any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. sincerely Mark Carne Chief Executive the gain the the 2m; Yours
NetworkRail On the structure itself a parapet 1.4
1.5m high is in place to prevent access from the upper and lower flights of the downside stair trestle. There are 2m high trussesledge beams on the bridge deck to prevent access_ palisade fence approximately 1.8m high is in position on both sides of the track on either side of structure The bridge is not known to Network Rail as being used by members of the public to access to infrastructure_ However; as a consequence of this event, can confirm that we intend to undertake the following works: Lower Flight install shorter palisade pales to connect into the existing boundary fence line. The additional pales are to be installed flush with the internal face of existing parapet and will raise the overall height of the parapet to a minimum of and Upper Flight raise the height of the stepped parapet with engineering brick, capped with bull nose units to remove the potential to scale the wall at this level and climb down behind the lower flight palisade up stand. We expect to have completed the works by the end of October 2015.The time frame for undertaking the works is driven by site access which is extremely limited due to the remote location of the structure. The materials required will have to be delivered by rail under possession (i.e. closure of the railway) and installed lineside during the week hope that this response provides you with adequate information and assurance that the issues you have identified have been properly considered and are being addressed: If can be of further assistance_ Or ifyou would like any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. sincerely Mark Carne Chief Executive the gain the the 2m; Yours
Sent To
- British Transport Police
- Network Rail
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 2
56-Day Deadline
11 Sep 2015
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Circumstances of the Death
At around 7.00am on the 10th March the train driver of the Northern Train Service travelling from Manchester Victoria to Wigan, reported a body lying at the side of the railway line between Walkden and Atherton, near to foot bridge number 57, which is located between Engine Lane and Peel Lane, Atherton; The body was later identified to be Adam Lee Connelly and evidence confirmed that he had been struck by a train causing injuries that resulted in his death: Unfortunately despite a thorough investigation by the British Transport Police, the train which struck Adam was not identified, nor were exact circumstances as to how Adam Lee Connelly came about his death: 10t_ the
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion urgent action should be taken to prevent future deaths and [ believe you and/or your organisation have the power to take such action;
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.