Drunk conductor locked passengers on train
A TRAIN conductor has been fined £400 after being caught drunk on duty at Edinburgh's main railway station.
Hundreds of passengers were stuck on board when the doors remained locked after arriving at Waverley earlier this month.
A frantic search by rail staff found Thomas Gracie, 40, asleep in the cab and the emergency door opening had to be used to let the passengers off.
The transport worker, of Morrison Crescent, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday to being more than three times over the drink-drive limit while at work.
Charlotte Ludgate, defending, said Gracie had been diagnosed with an illness and a close friend had recently died of the same illness. He had lost his job with ScotRail because of the incident and was now in debt.
"He's ashamed of himself and accepts that he has a drink problem," said Miss Ludgate.
Sheriff Nigel Morrison QC said he had reduced the fine from 600 because Gracie had admitted the offence.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy
- Rangers takeover: Duff & Phelps threaten legal action against BBC
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Rangers administration: Fans fear Duff & Phelps claims could scare off Green
- Rangers takeover: triple penalty punishment enough, says Johnston
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Scottish independence: SNP flip-flops over Nato
- Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’
- Scottish independence: Alex Salmond’s pledge to sign up 1m voters
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
