Passengers forced to walk on rail tracks at Hatfield

PASSENGERS were having to jump down from trains and walk back along the tracks to get on to the platform at Hatfield railway station. That is why trains are now stopping at the end of platform three, according to a spokesman at Office of Rail Regulation (

PASSENGERS were having to jump down from trains and walk back along the tracks to get on to the platform at Hatfield railway station.

That is why trains are now stopping at the end of platform three, according to a spokesman at Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

He was responding to last week's WHT article in which we highlighted the situation passengers were facing after First Capital Connect was ordered to remove intermediate stop points on the platform.

He said: "ORR, as safety regulator for the railways, responded to a series of serious incidents where trains stopped halfway off the platform at Hatfield.

"It is not acceptable that passengers should have to jump several feet down from an open train door onto ballast, and then make their way along a railway line where trains speed at up to 125mph, to get out of the station.

"It is our job to take action where passenger safety is at risk, and we have done so.

"We have also sought assurances from FCC that the removal of the six-car stop will not be allowed to inconvenience passengers."

This included, he added, building a new shelter in a more convenient place on the platform.

A spokesman for FCC said: "We are working to achieve all of the ORR's recommendations as quickly as possible.