The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) released its report today into a passenger's coat being trapped in closed tube train door at Tooting Broadway. There were no serious injuries as a result of the incident.
The full report into the incident is available here:
A summary of the key points from the report is included below -
Summary
A passenger was alighting from a southbound train at Tooting Broadway after the door warnings had sounded when the doors closed, trapping the hem of her coat. The train began to move before she was able to extract her coat, but the passenger was able to take the coat off, falling to the platform in the process.
The RAIB investigation identified the immediate cause as the train operator not observing the situation on the platform as he went through the train starting process. Causal factors were:
- The train operator not observing that all passengers were clear of the train doors before starting the train;
- The train operator focussing on the line ahead instead of monitoring the station platform on his CCTV; and
- The passenger leaving the train shortly before it departed, as the alarm was sounding.
The investigation has established that an apparently disproportionate amount of instances of persons being dragged by closed doors occurs on the Northern Line when compared with the rest of the London Underground.
Recommendations
London Underground Limited has issued a reminder to train operators of the correct procedure to be used when departing from a station, otherwise the RAIB would have made a recommendation in this area.
The RAIB has recommended that London Underground investigates why the Northern Line experiences a greater than expected proportion of this type of incident and take any appropriate steps as a result of their investigation to reduce the rate on the Northern Line towards that on other LUL lines.
Notes to Editors
1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. The RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
2. For media enquiries please call 020 7944 4671.
Newsdate: 28 August 2008
