Father of Missing Teen Commends Rail Company’s Vulnerability Training

The father of a teenager who vanished 17 years ago after traveling by train to London has expressed approval for the safeguarding training now provided to railway personnel, designed to assist them in identifying missing individuals. Andrew Gosden, who was 14 years old when he disappeared from Doncaster, was last observed on CCTV footage departing Kings Cross Station in September 2007. LNER, the company managing rail services connecting Doncaster and London, reported that its employees now undergo training aimed at recognizing vulnerable individuals and providing them with assistance. The company also noted that its staff located more than 120 missing persons in the past year alone. Kevin, Andrew’s father, commented that the safeguarding initiatives currently implemented by LNER “has the potential to really change a lot of lives”. Mr. Gosden has dedicated almost two decades to uncovering the circumstances of Andrew’s disappearance. His son had withdrawn all funds from his bank account and purchased a single ticket from Doncaster to London Kings Cross, where he was last recorded by CCTV on 14 September 2007. Mr. Gosden stated that any actions taken by railway personnel and other individuals to identify those who may be missing or require assistance would be appreciated. He remarked, “It’s not just about that missing person. It’s about the whole family and friends.” He added, “It really does have a huge impact on more people than you think about.” “We’re now talking 17 years after Andrew went missing and we still wonder if he’s dead or alive,” he stated. LNER reported that over the last 12 months, its employees successfully located a total of 126 missing individuals and directed more than 500 people to support services provided by social services, mental health teams, or charitable organizations. The company indicated that safeguarding has emerged as a primary concern for the entire railway sector in recent years. Jim Rawcliffe, LNER’s security and emergency planning manager, stated, “We train our staff to look out for anyone who might be distressed, concerned, or just not look at ease with the surroundings.” He described the training as “all about encouraging that member of staff to go and speak to the person”. He further explained, “It’s just trusting your gut feeling that something isn’t right and doing something about it.” Martha McBrier, representing the Missing People charity, mentioned that its personnel interact with approximately three individuals daily on trains or at stations who report being missing or contemplating going missing. Ms. McBrier, who serves as the charity’s helpline manager, noted that it is a frequent occurrence for individuals contemplating going missing to arrive at a railway station and simply board a train. She elaborated, “It’s this notion of feeling safe or feeling like something is moving – that they can go somewhere.” “Sometimes they might arrive and not even know where it is they want to go, but they just get on a train because it’s somewhere safe they can be,” she added. Kevin Gosden expressed that the uncertainty surrounding Andrew’s fate after his arrival at Kings Cross is nearly unbearable. He questioned, “He walked out of the station, but someone, somewhere, must have seen him, noticed him, spoken to him, surely?” “Every year that goes by feels like a year further away from getting any possible answer to what on earth happened – and we still miss Andrew,” he concluded.