Heathrow Exress to fit platform gap-fillers
Heathrow Express is to install platform gap-fillers at its stations to reduce the risk of passenger accidents.
It follows a year-long trial at Heathrow Terminal 5 during which there were no incidents of passengers falling between trains and the platform edge when gap-fillers were in use.
These type of incidents are responsible for 48% of the overall fatality risk to passengers, and cause knock-on delays to train services while the passenger’s welfare is being looked after.
The devices will now be installed at all Heathrow Express train stations by the end of May.
Joanne Lewis, head of safety for Heathrow Express, said: "Stepboard accidents are a concern across the rail industry, and for good reason; they can be fatal. With demand for rail travel predicted to double over the next 30 years in the UK, devices like gap-fillers could be a big help."
Heathrow Express carries 17,000 people a day between Paddington and Heathrow.
It is now working with the Rail Safety and Standards Board and other train operating companies in developing industry-wide National Platform Train Interface and Platform Gap-Filler strategies.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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