Issue 444 – Westbury train driver keeps calm under attack

AN HEROIC train driver from Westbury managed to keep calm when a teenager smashed a window in the driver’s cab, as she was driving.
Biddy Watson, from Griffin Close, was driving the passenger train on Monday 31st August past the army barracks on the outskirts of Warminister at about 3.15pm when a teenage boy threw an object at the train’s cab from a bridge. The passenger window in the cab smashed, showering Biddy with broken glass, but she carried on to Salisbury regardless.
Biddy said, “I saw this young teenager throw some tree bits down from the bridge which broke up on the track. Then there was an almighty crash as the passenger window smashed and covered me with glass.”
Biddy didn’t panic however and instead of stopping the train, which she was entitled to do, continued on to Salisbury. At its destination many of the passengers came up to Biddy to shake her hand or give her a hug, something she says was very touching.
“I just needed to get on and be professional and get the job done.” she said. “It was quite a shock, I was very shaken afterwards and didn’t really stop shaking until about 9.00pm. I’m OK now though.”
Wiltshire Police attended the scene of the incident shortly afterwards and conducted a search, but failed to find the culprit.
Although shaken by the attack, Biddy, a mother of three and Westbury’s first female train driver, will continue in the job she loves.
She added, “This sort of thing happens all the time unfortunately, but then I think of the number of trains I drive without incident. It’s a good job I wasn’t going faster or that the lad was one yard to the side, I could have been in serious trouble. When the police catch the youths who do this they should be charged with attempted murder, not criminal damage. They know the consequences and should be charged with attempted murder because that’s what it is.”
A spokesman for British Transport Police said, “Reckless acts of vandalism such as this can easily cause serious injury, or worse, to rail staff and passengers.
“People who throw objects at trains are not just risking a court appearance, they are risking serious injury to those on board the train.
“Fortunately, on this occasion no-on was injured. However it is vital that we find those involved in this incident as soon as possible and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact BTP straight away.”
Biddy has received praise for her actions from First Great Western, who operate the line. A First Great Western spokesman said, “Biddy handled the situation very well. She was professional, kept calm and full praise goes out to her for her actions. Drivers do not know how they will act in a situation like this unless it actually happens to them. Biddy is a credit to the company. ”
Later the same day other trains travelling along the same part of the line were also reportedly attacked with missiles.
Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040.