Baby run over by train and survives!

[Enkidoh]

I presume the platforms are sloped like that to allow rain water to drain off the platform during wet weather. I know a lot of older stations here in Perth are, or were, built to a similar design, although I think in our case the slight slope was also to allow clearance for narrow gauge rolling stock so it wouldn't foul the side of the platform.

Another factor that hasn't been discussed in this miraculous event was Melbourne's track gauge of 5' 3" (Irish broad gauge) - if you notice in the video the pram falls well between the rails, hence the train just passed right over the pram with the wheels seeming to miss it completely. If the track had been narrower, then the outcome might have been far more tragic.

 

[UP5521]

I presume the platforms are sloped like that to allow rain water to drain off the platform during wet weather. I know a lot of older stations here in Perth are, or were, built to a similar design, although I think in our case the slight slope was also to allow clearance for narrow gauge rolling stock so it wouldn't foul the side of the platform.

Another factor that hasn't been discussed in this miraculous event was Melbourne's track gauge of 5' 3" (Irish broad gauge) - if you notice in the video the pram falls well between the rails, hence the train just passed right over the pram with the wheels seeming to miss it completely. If the track had been narrower, then the outcome might have been far more tragic.

No arguments here, that would have been tragic if the tracks were anymore narrower in gauge!

 

[seeseeme]

<SNIP>

I feel sorry for the driver though. He must've been scared out of his wits for the rest of the day, if not the entire week.

WileeCoyote

I once worked in Payroll at a major Bus Depot in Sydney. Not far away at a major Bus Stop/Shopping center a young boy was found dead on the road. It was obvious that he was killed by a large vehicle. All the buses returning to our depot that afternoon/night where checked by our mechanics and they found the bus concerned. The police concluded that as this bus was the last one for the kid to get home on, he was running beside the bus trying to stop it and slipped under the back wheels.

The driver did fell/hear something and thought he a hit a gutter, which was very possible. He was helped by Management, the Union and Counselors through this very sad time. He returned work and had no obvious problems. 12 months later he had a very small accident with a car and this brought back all the memories of the accident with the kid. He was visibly very shaken with the small accident, he could not work properly. Again everyone helped him trying to get through this period. Finally everyone involved agreed that he could never drive a bus again. He was retired "medically unfit" which allowed his more benefits then he would get if he resigned.

You may never know how you feel after such an accident, the effects may last for a long time or come back to you after another accident.

Craig

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

I presume the platforms are sloped like that to allow rain water to drain off the platform during wet weather..

Well, the Romans knew how to transport water for miles in aqueducts, so I'm sure it would be possible to drain water from a platform no matter what direction it sloped.

It would be interesting to see if the rail authorities conduct an analysis of this accident and what changes are made to stop it happening again. If they took their profession as seriously as airlines do, something like that would be mandatory.