‘I was stuck on the train’: Motorists fuming over parking ticket after Bedford railway crash
A local authority has apologized for “incorrect” parking fines issued to motorists who were unable to move their vehicles following last week’s rail crash near Bedford.
Train driver Shaun Burton was killed and more than 150 people were injured, eight of whom remained in a critical condition, when an East Midlands Railway train rear-ended another train on the same line at Elstow, near Bedford, on Friday.
The accident resulted in the closure of the railway line and stranded motorists were unable to retrieve their vehicles parked in Bedford.
However, fixed penalty notices have been issued to some vehicles parked in the Bedford Borough Council-run car park adjacent to the station in Ashburnham Road.
The council later apologized and said it would take “corrective action” regarding the tickets issued.
A person trapped on the train behind the accident posted a photo of an X fixed penalty notice stuck to the windshield of his red Mini Cooper in the car park.
Tagging Bedford Borough Council, he wrote: “Really? Why are you issuing parking tickets for cars at Bedford railway station after the big incident yesterday? The police were telling people NOT to go to the station! How were we supposed to collect our cars? Or extend the parking time?”
Were you issued a fixed penalty ticket after the accident near Bedford last week? Email alexander.ross@independent.co.uk
They added: “And also, after the collision I was stuck on the train for three hours, got onto the tracks and was told to go home but I can’t get my car! I went to the station this morning.” [Saturday] to find a ticket. Common sense and common sense seem to be missing here!”
He said he appealed to the council on Monday.
The man’s social media post about his parking ticket caused anger among other users.
One person wrote: “The brilliant quality of the British state and its officials is on display here.” Another said: “Full value for the job.”
Independent He approached Bedford Borough Council for comment. In a statement Issue to Daily MailThe local authority said: “We are aware of this issue and apologize for the incorrectly issued tickets. The council has already taken corrective action in relation to these tickets.
“Anyone whose ticket needs to be canceled can email parking.services@bedford.gov.uk.”
On Wednesday, investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigating the crash published an interim report finding that Mr Burton’s train had gone through a red signal before the collision.
He added that it was not yet possible to tell what warning the driver received from the in-car system, which is designed to sound the horn when approaching a red light and activate emergency braking if this is not confirmed by pressing a button.
Approximately 162 people were injured, 102 of whom required hospital treatment. 53 people remained in hospital, eight of whom were in critical condition.
