Train door alarms fail to prevent risk-taking

THE majority of rail passengers try to get on and off trains even when the doors are about to close, new figures show.

Seven out of 10 (70 per cent) travellers would still attempt to board a train despite the door alarm sounding and more than half (57 per cent) would try to enter a carriage just before the doors start to close, according to research by safety body the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

Several passengers have been injured after being trapped in doors and dragged by trains in recent years. A 60-year-old woman suffered head, back and hand injuries in an incident at Hayes and Harlington station in London in 2015, when she was dragged for 19 metres along the platform with her hand trapped in the door.

Similar incidents have occurred in West Wickham, London, in April 2015, Newcastle Central in June 2013 and on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Jarrow in April 2012.

There were 1,515 incident on the platforms of railway stations in 2015/16.

The rail industry is examining how to increase awareness of the issue.

RSSB lead human factors specialist, Paul Leach, said: “Train travel is really safe, but it’s vital passengers aren’t tempted to make a dash for the doors no matter how rushed they are.

“The best way to avoid the risk of a nasty accident is to keep back from the edge and not try to get on or off once the door alarm starts to sound. Despite their appearance, train doors are not like lift doors and won’t necessarily re-open if something is trapped in them.”