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Clapham Junction rail crash 1988: Events remember the dead | Clapham Junction rail crash 1988: Events remember the dead |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Wreaths have been laid and a minute's silence held to remember the 35 people killed in a train crash in south London 30 years ago. | |
At 08:13 on 12 December 1988 faulty wiring and signalling caused three trains to collide in Clapham. | At 08:13 on 12 December 1988 faulty wiring and signalling caused three trains to collide in Clapham. |
Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a church service. | |
London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton said she remembered the "tragic" event "like it was yesterday". | London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton said she remembered the "tragic" event "like it was yesterday". |
Bosses from the emergency services and rail industry representatives also attended memorial events. | |
A 250-page report on the findings of the accident inquiry, chaired by Anthony Hidden QC, found faulty wiring had caused an incorrect signal to be displayed to a train driver, who was driving into a blind bend and had no chance to stop. | |
His train, which had come from Poole, ploughed head-on into the back of a stationary train, from Basingstoke. | His train, which had come from Poole, ploughed head-on into the back of a stationary train, from Basingstoke. |
The Poole train then veered and hit an empty oncoming train. | The Poole train then veered and hit an empty oncoming train. |
About 70 people suffered horrific injuries as the front section of the moving train was ripped open and completely destroyed. | About 70 people suffered horrific injuries as the front section of the moving train was ripped open and completely destroyed. |
John Bowis, who was the MP for Battersea at the time, said he drove to the "awful scene of carnage" as soon as he heard the news. | John Bowis, who was the MP for Battersea at the time, said he drove to the "awful scene of carnage" as soon as he heard the news. |
"It was something you never forget," he said. | "It was something you never forget," he said. |
Mr Bowis said the boys from nearby Emanuel School were "impressive" in the way they came to help the injured, but added: "I'm very conscious that some very young eyes and minds were confronted with awful things." | Mr Bowis said the boys from nearby Emanuel School were "impressive" in the way they came to help the injured, but added: "I'm very conscious that some very young eyes and minds were confronted with awful things." |
Marilyn Robinson, 73, escaped the wreckage of the Basingstoke train with relatively minor injuries. | |
After hugging Ms Cotton at the wreath-laying event in Spencer Park, Battersea, Ms Robinson said: "When these things happen to you, you have a choice. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. | |
"I chose to be a survivor." | |
Ms Robinson went on to join Disaster Action to help other people affected by tragedies like the one she experienced. | |
Christmas cards | Christmas cards |
Ms Cotton had only recently finished training as a firefighter when she was called to attend the "terrible and tragic" crash site. | Ms Cotton had only recently finished training as a firefighter when she was called to attend the "terrible and tragic" crash site. |
"There were Christmas cards strewn everywhere as people must have been writing their cards on the train," she said. | "There were Christmas cards strewn everywhere as people must have been writing their cards on the train," she said. |
"I still remember it like it was yesterday." | "I still remember it like it was yesterday." |
At 11:00 on Wednesday, Ms Cotton joined survivors and families as well as the London mayor Sadiq Khan, the Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, and rail industry representatives to lay wreaths and hold a minute's silence at a memorial to victims in Spencer Park, Battersea, followed by a service at St Mark's church. | |
The train drivers' union Aslef held a separate wreath-laying event and two-minute silence at the Spencer Park memorial at 08:13, to mark the exact moment the crash happened. | The train drivers' union Aslef held a separate wreath-laying event and two-minute silence at the Spencer Park memorial at 08:13, to mark the exact moment the crash happened. |
Although many of the Hidden report's 93 recommendations were acted on, a rail accident report last month found lessons learned in the disaster were being "forgotten". | Although many of the Hidden report's 93 recommendations were acted on, a rail accident report last month found lessons learned in the disaster were being "forgotten". |