Railway bosses terror fear over train fan Murray

Fiona Howard 1564 - 1564 • Published 24 Feb 2009 12:30

School video sparks concerns

RAIL bosses banned a five-year-old boy from making a video of one of their stations - for fear of terrorism.

Little Murray Wain wanted to do his first ever school project on the level crossing at Cardross station.

The film would have been part of his first class project at Cardross Primary School.

Murray, who lives with his family in the village"s Riverview Crescent, is a train fan and a big Thomas the Tank Engine enthusiast

His mum and dad believe he was inspired by a series of level crossing danger adverts on television.

So he decided he wanted to make a video in which he would tell his school friends how to be safe on the level crossing in the village.

Mum Sheena said: 'It is his first school project and he is taking it all extremely seriously.

'So a phone call was put in to First Scotrail to ask if it would be okay for Murray to make his film.'

Dad Paul added : 'We were told when we phoned that it would probably be okay but we didn"t hear any more.

'However, we went along the next day because Murray had to get his project in quite quickly and we spoke to the man on duty who went off to check with his bosses.

'We were amazed when he came back and said that we couldn"t do it because no filming is allowed at stations as an anti-terrorist measure and because there would be health and safety issues about a five-year-old filming on the platform without a safety officer present.'

Sheena - also mum to seven-year-old Grace and Sam, 12 - said: 'We asked because we thought it was the right thing to do but Cardross station is only manned until 2.15pm every day.

We could have just gone down and done the video without asking - it just seems really bizarre.'

A ScotRail spokesman said: 'Safety is paramount on railway property and clear rules and guidelines exist for the good of customers, staff and visitors.

'However, in this case, there appears to have been a lack of communication and understanding and we apologise for any upset caused.'

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 24 Feb 09

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