ANALYSE. APPROACH. ACTION.

Enfield Town station, identified through safety data as a hotspot for accidents such as slips, trips, and falls, experienced a severe 'trap and drag' incident in mid-July.

What is a 'trap and drag'?
A 'trap and drag' occurs when a passenger or object becomes trapped between a train's doors and is dragged along the platform as the train departs.

This incident underscored ongoing concerns about passenger safety, particularly during busy morning and evening rush hours. Many passengers, eager to catch their trains, take dangerous risks by running towards the platform.

In response, a thorough review was conducted to assess the contributing factors and explore preventative measures. One key issue identified was visibility. Specific station windows offer clear views of arriving and departing trains, which encourages risky last-minute dashes to the platform.

To address this, plans have been put in place to block these windows, preventing passengers from seeing stationary trains. Additionally, new floor signage has been installed, reminding passengers to exercise caution and remain aware of their surroundings when trains are present.

The review concluded that the main problem was passenger behaviour rather than infrastructure. To combat this, one significant safety measure being trialled is the "negative cleardown." This procedure removes train departure information from screens 90 seconds before a train leaves, aiming to reduce the temptation for passengers to rush to the platform at the last moment.

These steps reflect ARL's commitment to enhancing passenger safety. Simone Gordon, customer experience manager, highlighted the broader impact of these initiatives: "The implementation of these safety measures not only protects our customers but also enhances their overall experience. The positive impact here could serve as a model for replication across all our locations, ensuring that safety and satisfaction go hand in hand."

Regional business support manager, Rowan Blackshaw, noted positive feedback from station staff: "Passengers have been commenting on how noticeable the new floor vinyls are. We hope that by obscuring the platform from view at the gateline, we'll see fewer slips, trips, and falls."

Further updates will follow as additional safety measures are introduced to promote passenger awareness and security.