Penarth woman who stuck head out of train window killed by tree branch, jury concludes A PENARTH woman was killed by an overhanging tree branch when she stuck her head out of the window of a moving high-speed train, an inquest jury has concluded. Bethan Roper, 28, suffered fatal head injuries while a passenger on the Great Western Railway (GWR) train travelling at around 75mph. Miss Roper was returning home to South Wales on December 1 2018 from a day out with friends Christmas shopping in Bath. The GWR London Paddington to Exeter service was using carriages fitted with droplight windows to enable passengers to use the handle on the outside when they needed to leave the train at the platform.
Death of charity worker, 28, who stuck her head out of a train at 75mph and was killed by a tree branch which had been inspected TWICE by Network Rail could have been prevented if another inspection had happened, inquest told
Bethan Roper suffered fatal head injuries on Great Western Railway train in 2018
The 28-year-old had been returning home to South Wales from Bath after day out
Toxicology tests found Miss Roper was nearly twice drink-drive limit at the time
Tree had undergone inspections in 2009 and 2012 as part of a five-year cycle
Further specialist inspections may have prevented the tragedy, an expert said
The railway company said it plans to re-introduce the majority of its long-distance fleet from Monday. Hitachi’s fleet of 800 Series trains was removed from service across the UK as a precaution last weekend when cracks were found on some trains. After further “rigorous safety checks”, GWR is now beginning to reintroduce trains with a more regular service for passengers. The timetable includes
London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads: Half-hourly
London Paddington and Plymouth/Penzance: Hourly to Plymouth with services extended to Penzance every two hours
London Paddington and South Wales (via Bristol Parkway): Half-hourly during peak, hourly outside peak times
Hitachi’s UK express trains pressed back into service after more cracks discovered
Hitachi’s Class 800 high-speed Intercity Express Trains (IETs) are being returned to service less than a week after engineers identified cracks in the chassis during routine maintenance work at North Pole depot in London.
Faults were discovered in 150 of the Class 800 vehicles, but yesterday Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris announced the trains would re-enter service. He claimed ongoing “safety tests” would ensure the return of “reliable and punctual services” on the Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Railway (LNER).
A GWR Class 800 Azuma train at Castle Cary on the Exeter St Davids-London Paddington service (credit: Wikimedia Commons)