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Abstract
Injuries caused by falling in, or tripping over, the gap between the train and platform edge represent a significant portion of all accidents occurring annually in the rail sector. Based on discussions with subject matter experts and by literature searches it appears that previous attempts to understand the relationships between gap dimensions and incident occurrences have been limited and often unproductive. This study defines that relationship by analysing incident data relating to trips and falls at the platform-train interface over a period of a decade on the London Underground system. A positive correlation between the horizontal gap dimension and fall incident parameters has been identified using Spearman’s Rank coefficient and Kendall’s –B. Less prominent correlations with vertical and diagonal gap dimensions were also observed. Fitted exponential models were found to represent relationships with horizontal gap most effectively and showed excellent correlation with incident data gathered for the rollout of a new rolling stock type. These models have been used to define safety mitigation strategies which have been successfully implemented on the London Underground, reducing PTI incidents and hence injuries to passengers.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Transport for London for commissioning Kimberley Systems Engineering Limited to perform the analyses presented in this work and for provision of platform dimensions and incident data.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jonathan Harding
Jonathan Harding is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Physicist as well as being a Fellow of SaRS and a founding Director of KSEL. Jon has over 30 years’ experience in Systems Safety, Systems Engineering, Reliability and Risk Management. He attended the University of Nottingham, attaining a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. Since graduating in 1991, he has worked on systems safety and systems engineering with clients such as London Underground, High Speed 2, Network Rail and Hong Kong KCRC.
Matthew T. Elsmore
Matthew T. Elsmore is Systems Engineer with 3 years’ experience in the rail sector, prior to which he has worked on projects in the automotive, aerospace, nuclear, civil and materials industries. Matt completed a doctorate at the University of Nottingham in 2022 studying characterisation and modelling of sustainable polymer properties.
Kimberley C. Harding
Kimberley C. Harding is a doctoral student at the University of Birmingham, specialising in inclusive design within the UK rail industry and holds 10 years’ experience in the railway sector. Kim has a Bachelor’s degree in Design and Manufacture Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration.
Chris Hobden
Chris Hobden is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 40 years of experience in the delivery of major projects nationally and internationally in the Water, Telecommunications and latterly the Rail sectors. He attended Liverpool University where he graduated in 1984.
Mukesh Sharma
Mukesh Sharma is a founding director of KSEL. He is a Safety/Risk Management Engineer with more than 30 years of modern Railway/Nuclear industry experience in the development and application of safety critical products/systems. Mukesh (MIET) has Electronics (Honours) degree. He has worked on most of the UK major Railway/Nuclear projects.
Alan Lee
Alan Lee is a Chartered Engineer, KSEL Director and Fellow of SaRS. He attended Leicester Polytechnic, attaining a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology (Systems Engineering option) in 1988. Alan has over 35 years’ experience delivering Systems Safety, Systems Engineering and PRAM solutions across multiple international industry sectors.