Don’t let a tipple turn into a trip, warns new station safety campaign

Wednesday 31 Jul 2013

Don’t let a tipple turn into a trip, warns new station safety campaign

Region & Route:: National

A new campaign encouraging people to take extra care on their way home after a night out has been launched today after figures revealed more than 1,600 people have been hurt in the last year through slips or trips at Britain’s biggest railway stations.

Network Rail says many incidents occur when people lose their balance after a night out drinking and is using a new digital and poster campaign to urge everyone to take care.

Leeds, London Paddington and London Liverpool Street stations top the table for the highest number of slips, trips and falls. Across Network Rail’s 17 managed stations the toll consists of, tragically, one fatality, 51 bone fractures, 19 dislocations, five concussions and dozens of bruises, cuts and abrasions as people have fallen on steps and escalators, over luggage and even off platforms between trains.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s managing director for network operations, said: “We do everything we can to make moving around our stations as easy and safe as possible but our teams deal with far too many people who have injured themselves where it appears alcohol has been a factor.

“We want people to enjoy their evenings and get home safe. The only thing I want to see fall is the number of incidents, so hopefully the campaign will be a gentle reminder for people to take extra care as they travel home through our stations.”

British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “Somewhat inevitably, drinking alcohol can impair people’s judgement and coordination. Encouraging passengers to be more aware of their surroundings, particularly when they have had a drink, and to be alert to the inherent dangers that exist in stations will, we hope, reduce avoidable slips and falls across the network.”

The posters, which will be placed in all 17 Network Rail managed stations across Britain, include an optical illusion with wine and beer glasses giving the impression that the page is moving. The video, which will be placed on Youtube and on screens in stations, includes three incidents captured on CCTV highlighting the often painful consequences of taking a tumble at a station. Thankfully none of those involved sustained any permanent injuries – but no doubt bruised their pride.

Notes to editors

The fatality occurred at Leeds station on 20 March 2013 where a male fell down stairs hitting his head. He later died from his injuries. The incident remains subject to a coroner’s inquest, at which the circumstances of the incident will be determined.

Statistics: From 1 April 2012 – 31 March 2013 there were:

1,601 recorded incidents of slips, trips and falls at 17 of Britain’s biggest stations managed by Network Rail
1,422 did not involve a train, 179 did

Station	Total recorded number of slips, trips or falls by members of the public
Birmingham New Street	115
Edinburgh Waverley	101
Glasgow Central	65
Leeds	179
Liverpool Lime Street	51
London Bridge	80
London Cannon Street	11
London Charing Cross	37
London Euston	83
London Fenchurch Street	27
London King’s Cross	49
London Liverpool Street	135
London Paddington	177
London Victoria	120
London Waterloo	125
Manchester Piccadilly	112
St Pancras	134
Total	1601

Rail industry activities to prevent slips, trips and falls at stations:

New digital and poster campaign including using customer information screens
Many station staff are trained first aiders
Mats placed across station concourses to prevent slipping on wet surfaces during poor weather
Public address messages and signs encouraging people to use lifts if carrying heavy luggage or bulky bags
Escalators may be switched off earlier which helps to prevent people losing their balance.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - National
020 3356 8700
mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.