Station pick-ups unchanged since pensioner's death

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Michael Cockton was driving a rail replacement bus service outside Carlisle station

A bus company has confirmed pick-up arrangements at a train station remain the same as when a pedestrian was fatally injured there three years ago.

A rail replacement bus driver earlier admittedcausing death by careless drivingwhen pensioner Roger Denwood was struck and crushed outside Carlisle station on 30 November 2023.

During a trial, the defence barrister suggested the approved system, where coaches drove into the station car park through a 'no entry' sign against the flow of other traffic, "may defy logic".

A spokesman for First Bus and FirstGroup said arrangements were reviewed and updated in 2024, with pick-ups remaining the same and drop-offs moving to nearby Warwick Road.

On a day of some disruption to train services, Michael Cockton, 49, from Flimby, was driving an empty rail replacement coach, preparing to collect passengers.

Cockton properly followed procedure and had been attempting to reverse into a parking space in what the court heard was a "challenging driving environment".

The court heard the driver mistakenly believed he was in a reverse gear when he pressed the accelerator and shot forward into the station building, seriously injuring Denwood, who later died in hospital.

Drop-off moved

Following the court hearing, First Bus and FirstGroup said the pick-up and drop-off arrangement was an "established way of working at Carlisle station which had been in place for several years".

"Previous services had been operated in this way with no issues reported," the spokesman said.

"All drivers are fully briefed with running boards demonstrating routes to take."

Running boards are instructions given to drivers and operators, which can include timetables, specific route instructions and other information which may be useful, the company said.

The bus company said, following the review in 2024, it was changed to pick-up only in the car park, while drop-off was moved to Warwick Road.

The spokesman added: "The damage to the station, as well as the closed-off areas, immediately following the incident required a change to the arrangements.

"Once this was resolved, arrangements were reverted to the current way of working."

On Thursday, Cockton was cleared of a more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving after the judge agreed there was insufficient evidence on which a jury could convict.

He is due to be sentenced for causing death by careless driving on 11 December.

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