Press release -
Thameslink train driver in fatality drama shortlisted for award
A Bedford train driver with Thameslink, run by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), has been shortlisted for a national award for the outstanding help he gave his colleague and passengers when the late night train he was travelling on hit a person who tragically died.
Mo Latif, of Luton, who drives trains across the Bedford to Brighton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks Thameslink route, was a passenger himself travelling back towards the end of a long shift, on the 22.05 Brighton to Bedford service, when it was involved in the fatality near a station in Surrey. Without a second thought, Mo leapt into action, providing support and emotional assistance to the shaken driver.
The situation became worse for waiting passengers when the train batteries expired, plunging the carriages into darkness. Mo walked up and down the train, continually offering support and reassurance to the passengers, making sure everyone was safe and understood what was happening.
When the train was finally passed safe to move, sometime after midnight, it was clear the driver was not in a fit state to continue. Rather than delay passengers still further while a relief driver was found, Mo took over the controls and moved the train to the next station where the passengers were able to alight. He then drove the train a further two hours to return the train to its depot in Bedford. Mo worked a 15 hour shift.
Mo has been shortlisted for an award in the category ‘Outstanding Personal Contribution’ of the National Rail Awards. He was interviewed by judges on 8 June and the winner will be announced in September.
Mo’s line manager Mike Bland said: “Mo stayed on shift way past his sign off time to support the driver, as well as get the passengers to another station where they could carry on with their vastly disrupted journeys, and then move the train, whilst empty, back to Bedford. This is way and above what would have been expected.”
GTR Chief Executive Officer Charles Horton commended Mo’s actions, saying: “His professionalism is a credit to himself and GTR. He should be congratulated on his actions and for demonstrating our company values and behaviours so professionally.”
ends
Editor’s notes
The fatality took place on 22 October 2016. The Samaritans asks us not to reveal the precise location of such fatalities
Notes to editors
For more information email press.office@gtrailway.com or call Thameslink and Great Northern press office: 0203 750 2031
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Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
- Thameslink – services between Bedford and Brighton, Luton/St Albans and Sutton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks
- Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn
- Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)
- Gatwick Express – fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
GTR is the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff: GTR carries about 326 million passenger journeys per year, and employs around 6,500 people. Its aim is to improve services across all four networks.
Ticket revenue is passed to the government which pays GTR a fee to operate the franchise which is adjusted according to how well the train service is performing.
Southern has the highest passenger growth in the UK with numbers into London having doubled in 12 years - compared with the industry doubling over the past 20 years. To meet this growth and to future-proof the network, GTR is modernising the rail service for passengers.
GTR has introduced more new trains in the past year than all other franchises put together, with 1,400 new carriages so far.
The transformative £7bn Thameslink programme will bring hundreds more daily services from 2018, increasing the number of trains though the central London core from 12 to 24 trains per hour. Network Rail has also launched a £300m programme to improve resilience across the GTR network
GTR is modernising how it works, with new technology in use at our stations and on our trains, smartcard ticketing and a new, flexible on-board role on many Southern services. This ensures fewer cancellations, and with more staff on board our trains now than ever before, passengers are enjoying a much better level of on-board customer service.
The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.
southernrailway.com,gatwickexpress.com, thameslinkrailway.comgreatnorthernrail.com
