Fire Brigades Union:

Emergency Service staff including Royal Berkshire Firefighters and Emergency Fire Control Staff demonstrated their courage and professionalism in Berkshire train disaster.

The sympathies and thoughts of all emergency service workers go to the families and friends of those injured and those that died in this terrible tragedy.

Whilst the circumstance of the crash is being investigated the tremendous and tireless work of all emergency service staff should be recognised. Their agreed planning, skilled in their training for such eventualities, skilled and expert in the use of equipment, skilled in casualty treatment, command and control of a demanding inter-service incident these factors were efficiently and professionally activated.

The single Royal Berkshire Emergency Fire Control role in command and control of this incident was highly efficient is under threat from Government plans to regionalise Emergency Fire Controls for the whole of the South East of England.

Royal Berkshire fire appliances and personnel were used and their expertise, professionalism and local knowledge exemplified the efficiency of the response from the emergency service workers.

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For further information contact:

Peter Miller, FBU Regional Secretary, Southern Region - 07917 0650866