Tuesday 11 Dec 2012
Trolley trips and post-party tumbles can ruin a journey home - rail industry urges people to take care when travelling this Christmas
- Region & Route:
- National
More than 3,000 people have been involved in slips, trips or falls in Britain’s railway stations, with incidents involving luggage rising by 70% since 2004/5, according to latest figures published by Network Rail.
A new digital and poster campaign, with CCTV footage, highlights how running for a train with high heels, bags of shopping or attempting to carry heavy luggage on an escalator can end up with bruised pride as well as the body, and urges people to take care when travelling by rail over the festive period.
Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s managing director for network operations said: “A combination of more people carrying Christmas shopping, trailing wheelie suitcases, wet and windy weather and people travelling late after festive parties, make December a time where we see more people take a tumble. Our station teams are doing all they can to help passengers get home safe including welcoming back our travel champions in London who received such praise for their professionalism and help during the Olympic Games."
He added: “We don’t want to see anyone hurt at our stations so we’ll be doing what we can to keep concourses dry and clean and signposting lifts clearly for those with heavy luggage. Please plan ahead so you don’t end up rushing to catch your train - falling over could be a miserable end to an enjoyable evening.”
Most incidents involved people slipping on the concourse (1,488), falling down stairs (1,120) or on the platform (899) with more than 500 falls on escalators and over 400 people who fell when running. Incidents involving luggage have risen by 70% since 2004/5 with 614 recorded injuries, accounting for a fifth of the total. More than 400 incidents involved a person who was intoxicated.
- December 2011 saw 322 incidents, accounting for around 10% of the total.
- Fridays were the most common day for a slip, trip or fall to occur with more than a third (1,158) occurring between 5pm and 2.30am.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Pacey from British Transport Police said: “It’s always important to remain aware of your surroundings, particularly at this time of year when more of us are out shopping and partying. We will be supporting rail staff, especially during the evenings, to help them ensure everyone has a safe and secure journey.”
Notes to editors
Video is available to watch at: www.networkrail.co.uk/cctv
Recorded slips, trips and falls at Britain’s railway stations from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012. Figures supplied by RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board)
| Total: | 3118 |
| On escalators | 512 |
| On stairs: | 1120 |
| On the concourse | 1488 |
| On a platform | 899 |
| Involved people running | 425 |
| Person intoxicated | 437 |
| During December | 322 (10%) |
| Major/Minor: | 19 major injuries (only 5 involving intoxication) and 1 fatality (person who fell on an escalator at London Bridge station) |
| Time: | 1158 incidents were between 5pm and 2.30am (37%) |
| Day: | Incident peak on Fridays 569 (18%) |
| Luggage: | 614 reported injuries involved luggage. This is up from 362 in 04/05 up 70% and 20% of total |
Rail industry activities to prevent slips, trips and falls at stations:
- New digital and poster campaign including using customer information screens
- Bringing back travel champions who worked during the Olympics
- Many station staff are trained first aiders
- Mats placed across station concourses to prevent slipping on wet surfaces during poor weather
- Public address messages 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
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Network Rail press office - National
020 3356 8700
mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
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