New signs recommended at Hinton Admiral railway station in wake of Callum Evans death

A CORONER has called for warning signs to be installed at Hinton Admiral railway station in the wake of a teenager’s death.

Callum Evans (17) was fatally electrocuted by the live rail on 15th September last year, a recent inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard.

Jason Pegg, area coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, ruled he died an accidental death, having gone onto the tracks and falling while trying to climb onto the platform as a train approached.

Mr Pegg noted there was limited signage alerting passengers to the dangers of the rail, and has now written to Network Rail appealing for action.

"A friend in the company of the deceased at the railway station indicated a lack of knowledge of the presence of a live electrified (third) rail at the railway station, and stated that if it had been known that there was a live rail they would not have gone onto the railway tracks," he wrote.

"The railway station has an absence of signage stating the presence and risk to life of a live rail on the railway tracks which can be seen by those entering the railway station or whilst on the central part of the platform.

"The only sign referring to the live rail is at the far sloped end of the platform, some distance from the station entrance and central part of the platform, which states ‘Do not touch live rail’.

"There is signage stating ‘No trespassing’, but nothing effectively communicating the presence of a live rail or the risk to life from that live rail."

Mr Pegg added: "In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action."

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "The death of such a young person is a terrible tragedy and shows why Network Rail works so hard with the British Transport Police (BTP) to increase awareness of the dangers of the railway, through media campaigns such as You vs Train, school visits and through improvements to the railway itself.

"Those campaigns increase in visibility in peak periods, such as school holidays, and are often focused on high-risk areas.

"As well as signage, Hinton Admiral station has gates at the platform ends to emphasise the importance of staying safe.

"We will continue to work with the BTP and will respond to the coroner in due course."