Kevin Phillip SHERWOOD · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 11 Sep 2018•Hertfordshire

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
6

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Insufficient railway boundary fencing in areas used by dog walkers and others
    Part of recurring concern: Ineffective controls preventing access to railway tracks

Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.6

  1. Network Rail

    Continue working with industry partners to prevent loss of life in the Hitchin area through the Thameslink suicide-prevention strategy.

  2. Network Rail

    Reassess the Icknield Way boundary risk using the fencing standard after the incident.

  3. Network Rail

    Add platform-end anti-trespass measures at Hitchin Station to deter track access.

  4. Network Rail

    Carry out three-monthly inspections of the Icknield Way fencing to manage its increased risk rating.

  5. Network Rail

    Introduce roving patrollers focused on suicide prevention and rapid incident response along the Thameslink route.

  6. Network Rail

    Renew the Icknield Way fencing with a scheduled replacement in 2019/2020.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Network Rail

    Existing compliant fencing, three-monthly inspections and scheduled renewal are considered sufficient pending replacement.

    Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Insufficient railway boundary fencing in areas used by dog walkers and others

Wider context from the report

“(1) Only post and wire fencing at the railway boundary in this area. The areas on both sides off the Ickneild Way, particularly to the west of the railway, are used by dog walkers and others. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Ineffective controls preventing access to railway tracks.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue working with industry partners to prevent loss of life in the Hitchin area through the Thameslink suicide-prevention strategy.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Network Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP), together with Train Operating Companies, are working together to actively mitigate against suicidal intent along the line of route from Peterborough to Kings Cross and Bedford to St Pancras (which includes Hitchin), together known as the Thameslink route.”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 2 · response
Published 18 January 2019

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Reassess the Icknield Way boundary risk using the fencing standard after the incident.

Verbatim wording from the response

“At the time of the incident the boundary measure in the Icknield Way, Hitchin area had been assessed as 3 (Likelihood) x 3 (Consequence) + 0 (Condition) = 9 and, as such, deemed medium risk. The class 3 (1.4m high) boundary measure on both sides of the track was installed twelve years ago. The inspection prior to the incident on 15th February 2018 recorded the fence as ‘good condition’ and regarded as compliant to the Fencing Standard.”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 2 · response
Published 18 January 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Add platform-end anti-trespass measures at Hitchin Station to deter track access.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Specifically, Platform End Anti-trespass measures have been added to Hitchin Station to deter access on to the track. In addition to existing Mobile Operations staff who patrol the area, the Route has been supported by BTP Emergency Interventions Units and BTP Embedded Inspectors. Network Rail has also introduced a team of ‘roving patrollers’ whose focus is suicide prevention on this line of route and providing rapid response to incidents. We continue to work closely with industry partners to prevent loss of life in the Hitchin area as part of our strategy for the Thameslink route.”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 3 · response
Published 18 January 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Carry out three-monthly inspections of the Icknield Way fencing to manage its increased risk rating.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As a result of this incident, the site was re-assessed (in line with the Fencing Standard) and the likelihood score increased from 3 to 4 as there was now “recorded evidence of trespass or vandalism within the last twelve months”. The consequence score was also increased from 3 to 4 as a result of the increase in numbers of trains through this section of railway. The revised score, therefore, became 4 (Likelihood) x 4 (Consequence) + 0 (Condition) = 16.”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 2 · response
Published 18 January 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introduce roving patrollers focused on suicide prevention and rapid incident response along the Thameslink route.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Specifically, Platform End Anti-trespass measures have been added to Hitchin Station to deter access on to the track. In addition to existing Mobile Operations staff who patrol the area, the Route has been supported by BTP Emergency Interventions Units and BTP Embedded Inspectors. Network Rail has also introduced a team of ‘roving patrollers’ whose focus is suicide prevention on this line of route and providing rapid response to incidents. We continue to work closely with industry partners to prevent loss of life in the Hitchin area as part of our strategy for the Thameslink route.”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 3 · response
Published 18 January 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Renew the Icknield Way fencing with a scheduled replacement in 2019/2020.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The mitigation for the increased risk score is a requirement to increase the frequency of inspection from annual to three monthly. The standard also requires that, at the point where the current fence becomes life expired, it will be replaced by a class 1 (1.8m high) fence. A fence line may be renewed prior to life expiry in some circumstances due to operational requirements or route enhancement projects (subject to funding).”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 2 · response
Published 18 January 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing compliant fencing, three-monthly inspections and scheduled renewal are considered sufficient pending replacement.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The mitigation for the increased risk score is a requirement to increase the frequency of inspection from annual to three monthly. The standard also requires that, at the point where the current fence becomes life expired, it will be replaced by a class 1 (1.8m high) fence. A fence line may be renewed prior to life expiry in some circumstances due to operational requirements or route enhancement projects (subject to funding).”

Source location

2018-0289-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 2 · response
Published 18 January 2019

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026