Ex-volunteer hits out at training (From Penarth Times)

Ex-volunteer hits out at training

A FORMER volunteer from Penarth has raised safety issues about Barry Island steam railway.

Lynette Philips, of Grove Place, was the safety officer for the registered charity, but was relieved of her post some months ago.

She said: "I raised questions which were in my opinion important to mention.

The next thing I knew I was no longer the safety officer.

I liked to work with steam and have been an enthusiast for a long time.

My involvement with the railway has been for 10 years, but now I cannot bear to go there." She added that she thought drivers were not trained enough to run the steam trains. Lynette now works for a railway company as a safety officer.

Project manager Mark White who deals with the railway for the Vale Council said: "I am aware of the railway, because we have a monthly meeting to discuss any issues.

To my knowledge there are no safety problems which need to be addressed at the moment."

A senior health and safety executive for Her Majesties Railway Inspectorate, Mike Holmes said: "The railway has to be approved by us.

So all the safety checks are carried out before it is allowed to be run.

A new station has recently been opened and passed all the required tests.

As for the rest of the railway it is checked about once year, because it is not considered a risky operation."

He added that he was not aware of any training problems with drivers and that there is a 'safety case' which is a set of guidelines the railway has to adhere to, which they have been doing.

Chairman of the Vale railway, Geoff Morgan said: "We have regular inspections and as far as I am aware everything is satisfactory.

We have been supported by the Vale council for a long time, which they continue to do today."