Girl's death leads to rail safety move
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Railway chiefs have pledged pounds 40,000 to improve safety after an 11-year-old girl died at a south London station.
Network SouthCentral promised safety improvements on three stations after Christine Wallace was killed last month while playing at East Dulwich.
Christine went to fetch a ball which fell off the platform. It is believed she touched the live electrified line. The station was closed and unstaffed as it was a Sunday, but trains were passing through.
Tessa Jowell, Labour MP for Dulwich, has persuaded Network SouthCentral, the local train operators, to invest pounds 40,000 in improving East Dulwich, North Dulwich and Peckham Rye stations. Crime on railways has risen 35 per cent in the past 10 years, during which time British Rail staffing levels have halved. Many stations are unstaffed.
'The level of station staffing has fallen drastically in the past 10 years, said Ms Jowell. 'You keep stations safe by having them well-staffed. The temptation for inner-city children to play on stations is enormous. It is irresistible, but lethal.'
The money will be used to fund a safety audit of the stations and to propose improvements. SouthCentral has also launched a poster campaign at all its south London stations to alert children to the dangers.
The latest cash pledge comes after an earlier pounds 40,000 from neighbouring train operators South Eastern, which was concerned at passengers' alarm over poor safety levels on and around four other stations in the Dulwich area - Sydenham Hill, Denmark Hill, West Dulwich and Nunhead.
Southwark council has already agreed to match the first pounds 40,000 and Ms Jowell hopes it will do the same for the latest initiative.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments