Report identifies measures needed to increase platform safety

Changes to the way stations are run, albeit only small, could herald big safety improvements, according to new RSSB research.

The rail safety and standards organisation says that clarifying the requirements and recommendations for the design and position of the yellow line, and improving customer awareness of the higher-risk platform slopes, will reduce accidents.

RSSB cites Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) work highlighting how pushchair-related incidents have increased, including unsecured buggies rolling towards the railway.

Two pieces of research commissioned by RSSB identify the risks. The first was undertaken with focus groups and recommends placing awareness posters in areas frequently used by wheelchair and pushchair users (such as in lifts, at ticket machines, at platform retail outlets and on information screens) to encourage lower-risk behaviour, as well as creating tailored, public address system announcements on platforms and trains at higher-risk locations

Steve Enright, Head of Safety, Security and Sustainability at Abellio Holdings, said: “It is the first detailed investigative report that brings together as many of the influencing factors as we have been able to identify. It has been wide-ranging in scope and thorough in attention to detail. As such, it should be viewed as a foundation work for considering the hazards and the risks that arise and how we can develop our risk control strategies.”

The second project was designed to create guidance on the most effective design and position of platform markings at the platform edge. It found that a consistent approach to the yellow line and tactile paving across the UK rail network would help to improve safety at the platform edge. However, RSSB said that yellow lines and tactile paving may still need to be positioned differently, because of the differences in platform and passenger factors.

The research recommended two standard default positions for these platform markings:

■ A standard position of an integrated yellow line and tactile paving at 760mm from the platform edge, when there is low risk and enough space behind the line for customers to wait.

■ A 100mm wide yellow line at 1,400mm when there are non-stopping passenger services over 100mph, freight services over 45mph, any other significant aerodynamic risk such as the wind from a passing train pulling people or objects across the platform, and sufficient space behind the line for customers to wait.

Tactile paving should be installed in the standard position of 760mm from the platform edge, but in a colour as similar as possible to the platform surface.