One of Reading’s MPs has reflected on surviving a horror train crash in London on its 25th anniversary.
The Paddington rail crash, also known as the Ladbroke Grove crash, happened just after 8am on October 5, 1999.
The horror crash happened when two passenger trains collided almost head-on after a signalling fault. Sadly 31 people lost their lives and 417 were injured after the crash 25 years ago.
Matt Rodda, who was 32 years-old at the time, was among those on board, taking the train from Reading to London.
Now he has reflected on the horrific scenes and doing what he could to help those who were injured. The Labour MP for Reading Central said: “I was extremely lucky to survive really. I was in the standing-up buffet car, it was about the only place to stand as it was packed.
“Trains back then were shorter than the modern ones.
“We were shunted violently in the buffet car, the carriage came to a sudden halt we got thrown into the air.
“Then many of us got up dazed, got out of the car and were able to walk away.”
Mr Rodda was able to escape to see carriages damaged and on fire. He said: “It was like a scene from a war zone or a disaster scene.
“There were burning carriages that were scattered and pools of burning oil.”
Mr Rodda was among those who helped Pam Warren, who suffered burns to her face in the crash. She later became known as the ‘Lady in the Mask’ as her injuries were obscured by a plastic mask during treatment.
He said: “Pam Warren staggered towards me, she was quite badly burned, I helped her across the railway.
“Me and others were shouting for help from the ambulance staff to take the badly injured. I helped Pam get onto the stretcher and away to hospital.”
Mr Rodda reflected that he could have been killed or badly burned as he usually made his way to First Class to get off the train, but couldn’t because there were so many people on board. Those at the front of the train were worst affected during the collision.
People who survived the crash support each other through the Paddington Survivors Group, which was set up by Pam Warren. In 2014, she published the book From Behind the Mask about her experiences in recovery.
Mr Rodda said: “It’s very sobering, and it’s important to remember the anniversary. I’m grateful to have not been more affected by it at the time, I was extremely lucky.
“My wife Sarah was pregnant with our first child on the way. My son would never have met me.
“It’s a very sobering thought, and it’s important to remember the people affected by the accident.”
