Injured after slipping when boarding train - can I press for refund?

BLT_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

On Saturday evening I was making my way to catch the last train from London Victoria back home. I got there in plenty of time but had to dash a little as the guard was blowing his whistle and telling everyone to hurry up.

As I got to the train I turned to get on and go through the door, but slipped on a big pool of water that had been caused by a leak from the ceiling above the platform. The staff must have known about the leak because they had put a mat underneath which was saturated, but there was no indication to passengers that water was present: no signs, bollards or other warnings.

I fell awkwardly on the 'bumpy' paving that's designed for visually-impaired people, and have bruised and cut my knee which is now very painful. I'm pretty sure there's no lasting damage, but it's sore to walk. I also, rather annoying, lost one of my sandals as I fell, which went onto the tracks.

For those reasons, I had to wait until the train had left before asking a member of staff to pick up my sandal. I then had to get an alternative train and pay £30 to get a taxi home.

I'm about to write to Network Rail because I feel they should have warned passengers that the platform was slippery, but what is the best approach to take in asking them to offer to pay my taxi fare home? I am fairly confident that all of this has been captured on CCTV, so feel like suggesting they have been negligent and ought to cover my expense because of their failure to clean up a major spill.

Having had problems with one train the OP is now trying to ride the gravy train. What the hell happened to personal responsibility in this damn country, everytime someone doesn't watch where they are walking the want to sue someone. If you can't watch where you are putting your feet then tough, live with it.

I hope you lose any case you put through

BLT_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

IT IS INDOORS! How is water on a platform caused by a leaking pipe a natural event?

It wasn't the rushing that caused me to slip. I was walking at the time.

But obviously not watching where you were walking

richardvc

laird wrote: »

The person despatching the train would also be a Network Rail employee too, QUOTE]

That isn't the case on the Southern side - they are Southern employees.

richardvc

surreysaver wrote: »

They slipped on the station, not the train.

The TOC will be the first point of contact. Southern run that side of Victoria and would be honour bound to inform NR.

Anyway, water on those mats is nothing new.

richardvc

BLT wrote: »

Having had problems with one train the OP is now trying to ride the gravy train. What the hell happened to personal responsibility in this damn country, everytime someone doesn't watch where they are walking the want to sue someone. If you can't watch where you are putting your feet then tough, live with it.

I hope you lose any case you put through

BLT wrote: »

But obviously not watching where you were walking

No you guys don't understand - I am very familiar with Victoria Station and this is a somewhat regular occurrence. They leave massive mats down to soak up the water but then the mats become very slippery yet do not look wet.

I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often and IMHO more effort should be made to keep people off the mats !

surreysaver

richardvc wrote: »

The TOC will be the first point of contact. Southern run that side of Victoria and would be honour bound to inform NR.

Major stations are run by Network Rail, not TOCs.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/947.aspx

johnnyroper

surreysaver wrote: »

Major stations are run by Network Rail, not TOCs.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/947.aspx

some stations are operated by NR but i think some have the toc staff doing dispatch and customer services etc.

richardvc

Surreysaver, with the greatest respect Southern run platforms 8-19 at Victoria and are all staffed by Southern employees. The Southeastern side is run and staffed by NR.

The OP should contact Southern in the first instance who in turn are honour bound to report to NR.

[Deleted User]

richardvc wrote: »

Surreysaver, with the greatest respect Southern run platforms 8-19 at Victoria and are all staffed by Southern employees. The Southeastern side is run and staffed by NR.

The OP should contact Southern in the first instance who in turn are honour bound to report to NR.

I see - I actually contacted NR first because on the signs above the platform it said that this station is operated by Network Rail, but hopefully they will pass the correspondence on.

[Deleted User]

Just to update you:

I've received a letter from Network Rail apologising and saying that they have reviewed the CCTV footage of the incident. They acknowledge that no warning was provided and that the mats they put down to absorb a known leak are often far from ideal.

As a result, they've offered to cover the taxi fare and my out-of-pocket expenses, which is exactly what I was looking for in the first instance.

Another example of good customer service and where you shouldn't lie down and be walked all over when others are at fault.