Southend Pier train set to be out of action for months

Passengers were left shocked after one of the pier’s new trains hit the buffers earlier this month.

Southend Council said the national body, the Office of Rail and Road, is yet to visit the site to start an investigation but this could then be followed up by a further independent investigation depending on its findings. In the meantime the train will sit in the sidings.

When asked how long the train would be out of action at a place scrutiny meeting on Monday, Matt Dent, councillor responsible for culture, tourism and business, said: “The investigations into that are ongoing. Because it was a train accident there is a national body that needs to be involved before we can move forward but there will be more detailed reports coming forward on that.

“It’s hard to say much on it yet when we don’t know what the cause was but I can give assurances that there will be detailed comment and an opportunity to scrutinise that going forward.”

The shunt on October 6 sent shards of glass from a smashed window flying through a carriage.

Council staff were forced to smash a glass door panel to gain access to the train and lead passengers to safety after the train was reported to have lost all power at the end of its journey.

Passengers heading to a trip on the Waverley boat were forced to walk the pier after the shunt left the electric train, which has a top speed of 10mph, out of action.

A Southend Council spokesman said: “We don’t have much information at this stage as it is under investigation.

“However, the train will be out of operation until the investigation is complete, which we are unable to give a timeframe.”

The train is one of two “state-of-the-art”, eco-friendly, electric trains installed as part of a £3.5million investment for Southend.

One was named after late MP Sir David Amess and unveiled by the then Prince Charles in 2022. It was out of action for five months after a technical problem left passengers trapped inside when doors failed to open.