Gatwick Airport, Brighton and East Croydon have been named among the busiest railway stations for preventable accidents.
Now rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway has launched its first-ever safety campaign, fronted by comedian Diane Morgan.
The move aims to reduce injuries on the network.
New figures show an average of two people are hurt every day across the network.
Speaking about the campaign, Diane Morgan says: “As has been well publicised, I have always been a strong advocate for rail safety. Unlike some of my comedy contemporaries, who would love to see passengers fall down stairs or get their head trapped in the closing doors, I have always made it quite clear that rail safety is my number one priority. These short films are the culmination of my life’s work. Enjoy them.”
The new research from GTR highlights people’s lack of awareness when it comes to dangerous behaviour at train stations, with travellers admitting that they didn't realise running for a train (32%) or taking heavy luggage or buggies on the escalator (27%) would be unsafe or have implications.
There is also a clear disparity between doing these behaviours at a station and admitting to them. One in four (25%) train travellers say they have seen someone get caught in the closing doors of a train, despite just 1 in 20 (7%) admitting to it. Not only this, but train travellers have strong views towards others doing these behaviours, with over three-quarters (79%) saying that getting stuck in train doors is embarrassing, and half of us (47%) saying that about running for a train.
Samantha Facey, Health, Safety and Security Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:
“Most injuries we see from these behaviours are preventable and we're committed to helping our customers travel safely. We know that people are busy, journeys can be rushed, and some of these habits are so ingrained that they stop feeling like risks at all. That's exactly why we needed a different approach, and working with Diane gave us something powerful – a chance to make people laugh at behaviour they might recognise in themselves, and in doing so, genuinely think twice. We want customers to pause, take their time, and travel safely, and I hope this film is a step towards that. If you've ever sprinted for a train, wrestled luggage onto an escalator, or tested a closing door, watch the film. It might just change your mind.”
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