The UK’s official rail safety body has warned passengers not to take risks when getting on trains after research found that three quarters still try to board after the door close alarm starts to sound.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) said two thirds of rail passengers interviewed for its research failed to associate the alarm as meaning ‘stand back’, with most disregarding it and continuing to board.
It added that the majority of passengers mistakenly believe that all train doors are like lift doors, and will always re-open if something is obstructing them.
The research also revealed a variety in types of train and door, where some take longer than others to close. The RSSB said enhanced audible messages and optimal timings of warnings and alarm types could help reduce the risk.
Lead human factors specialist Paul Leach said: ‘Train travel is really safe, but it’s vital that 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.
‘At the same time, rail companies will want to do everything they can to make passengers safe. That includes managing the risk when trains leave stations and fully learning from incidents when they do occur.’
The RSSB said that in the worst cases, passengers have suffered major injuries after being trapped in the doors and dragged by the train.
Despite this, its research found that one in six people (16%) will still try to board even as the doors are physically closing together in front of them. Even in cases where no one is injured, incidents can cause unnecessary delays to trains.
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