December 24th 2024.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of the Elizabeth line since its grand opening in May 2022, with a price tag of £18.8 billion. These concerns came to light when a passenger experienced a terrifying incident while attempting to board a train at Ealing Broadway station. It was just after midnight on November 24th when the unfortunate passenger's hand became trapped in the closing doors of the train.
As the train started to move, the passenger was forced to run alongside it for several meters, before being rescued by a railway staff member who was working on the platform. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reported that the driver was alerted by nearby passengers and was able to stop the train after it had traveled approximately 17 meters.
The RAIB has launched an investigation into the incident, aiming to determine what exactly happened, the roles of those involved, and how to better manage the risks associated with passengers boarding and disembarking the Elizabeth line trains. This is not the first time the RAIB has looked into similar incidents, as they had previously investigated two cases where passengers were dragged along London Underground platforms due to their clothing getting stuck in the train doors.
One of these incidents involved a 101-year-old woman who was seriously injured after being dragged by a Northern line train at Archway station in February. The other incident involved a woman who was dragged 20 meters along the platform at Chalk Farm station after getting caught in the closing doors of a Northern line train. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of Ealing Broadway station, specifically the large gap between the platform and the Elizabeth line trains.
In response to these concerns, the Mayor of London publicly apologized in July and promised to fix the issue. However, this latest incident has once again brought attention to the need for improved safety measures. In light of this, the RAIB has recommended implementing technology that can detect when small objects are trapped or being dragged by a train. They have also suggested modifying door seals to make it easier to remove small objects caught in the doors.
A spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL) stated that the MTR-Elizabeth line, the operator of the service, is currently conducting a thorough investigation into this incident. They also assured that safety is a top priority, and they are constantly striving to learn from incidents and improve operational safety. The spokesperson also mentioned that while serious injuries on their network are rare, they are continuously working towards making it even safer for everyone.
In the meantime, TfL encourages people to stay updated on the latest news from the capital by visiting Metro's London news hub. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, expressed his regret and apologized for the incident, stating that no one should be injured while going about their daily business. He also expressed his commitment to making the transportation system safer for everyone.
As the investigation into this incident continues, the MTR-Elizabeth line is fully cooperating with the RAIB to determine the root cause and prevent any further incidents. They also aim to share their learnings with the industry to improve safety measures across all transportation networks. While incidents like this are uncommon, they are taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of all passengers.
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