Train Driver Caught Texting Moments Before Crash
Speeding Train Smashes Into Kirkby Station
Philip Hollis, 56, narrowly avoided jail after a dangerous episode behind the wheel of a Merseyrail train. The Liverpool driver was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for endangering passengers.
On 13 March 2021, Hollis was hurtling into Kirkby station at 40mph — way over the 15mph limit — before crashing into the buffer stops. The collision derailed the train and caused a whopping £450,000 damage. Twelve passengers and a guard were on board but thankfully only suffered minor injuries.
Driver Claims Distraction, But Evidence Tells a Different Story
Hollis told police he was distracted retrieving a fallen bag and a bottle of Lucozade while driving. But CCTV and phone records revealed he sent a WhatsApp message just 26 seconds before the crash.
He admitted during police interviews that he should have had his phone switched off in the cab — a clear breach of safety protocols.
Investigation Exposes Reckless Negligence
Detective Chief Inspector Steve May said: “This was a complex investigation but we could be confident from our analysis that Hollis was using his phone in the seconds before crashing the train into Kirkby station at high speed.”
“I have no doubt this will have caused him to become distracted while driving, endangering the safety of the passengers and staff on board. It was only through sheer luck that they weren’t seriously injured or worse, killed, as a result of this incredibly dangerous incident.”
Driver Fired, Community Shaken
Merseyrail dismissed Hollis in September 2021 following the incident. The case underscores the dangers of distracted driving — especially when lives are at stake on our railways.
