Station safety

Watch your Step

We manage Britain’s busiest and biggest stations. We work hard to keep passengers travelling through our stations safe – we want everyone home safe every day.

However, despite us doing everything we can to make stations a safe place, they are only as safe as the way they are used by people. We see too many accidents happening at stations every year so we are asking people to be more aware of their surroundings and be more careful in stations.

Take care on escalators and stairs

Most accidents leading to major injuries at stations are due to slips, trips and falls. And they’re likely to happen on escalators or stairs more than any other station location, often because people are rushing or carrying heavy luggage.

To avoid accidents on stairs and escalators:

Use lifts, or step-free routes where available, if you’re carrying luggage.
Use lifts, or step-free routes where available, if you have a bike or mobility scooter.
Use lifts, or step-free routes where available, if you have children in a pushchair.
Don’t rush when moving up or down stairs or escalators.
Hold the handrail and concentrate on your footing.
Wear sensible footwear, and keep children’s feet away from the side brushes.
Walk, don’t run.

Walk with care

It’s not just escalators and stairs passengers need to be mindful of. Whilst every effort is made to keep concourses, platforms and other floor surfaces safe, regular footfall and environmental factors can make surfaces slippery or present unplanned obstacles. So, to avoid accidents around the station:

Wear sensible footwear.
Walk, don’t run.

Mind the gap

We work with others in the rail industry on the Platform Train Interface (PTI) strategy, to make the gap between the platform and the train safer for passengers.

However, unfortunately we can’t reduce the gaps between trains and platforms. There are 2,500 stations in Britain built to varying specifications over the last 200 years, and there are many different designs of trains too. Take extra care and mind the gap.

There are also other risks to be aware of when on a station platform:

Be aware of the doors – When boarding or alighting the train, don’t stop doors from closing as they may not reopen automatically.

If you drop something on the track, leave it and contact a member of staff – Every year people are killed while trespassing on the railway. Never step onto the tracks. Lines may be electrified and trains can approach at speed. If you drop something, contact a member of staff.

To stay safe on platforms:

Stay behind the marked yellow/white platform edge lines whilst waiting on the platforms.
Make sure you apply the brakes to prams and strollers, and always position parallel to the tracks.

Had a few drinks?

It’s easy to momentarily forget the risks if you’re under the influence of alcohol or other substances. At certain times through the year we see an increase in accidents where alcohol was a contributing factor. People who have consumed alcohol are more likely to slip, trip or fall or make irrational decisions such as running across the track.

We’re improving passenger flow

We’re working on a programme of upgrades that will make our stations safer and more appealing places to visit, including improvements in signage and access. We’re also working hard to apply the latest technology to how we communicate safety messaging in stations.

If you need help getting on and off trains, please book passenger assistance.