Terrifying new CCTV footage shows the moment a man is dragged under a train after standing too close to the platform edge.
Rail bosses are warning Brits to take care on the railways this Christmas after a spate of terrifying accidents and near-misses. Incidents tend to spike around busy festive period, they say, as some people may take their only train of the year while visiting friends or family, and so may not be familiar with the importance of some safety rules. In the shocking new clip, released by Govia Thameslink, a man can be seen stood on a platform at London Blackfriars perilously close to the tracks.
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Govia Thameslink Railway)
The man appears well beyond the yellow line, which passengers are told not to cross for their own safety. Then, as the train pulls into the platform the man is knocked to the ground by the arriving carriage and is left just centimetres away from the railway track.
Luckily for him, the train only drags his feet under, and at the end of the video a number of fellow passengers are seen coming to his aid. Thameslink, who operate services in London and the southeast, say this winter has seen the most passengers since before the pandemic – and with it a number of accidents. London Victoria and Gatwick Airport are the stations with the highest number of recorded injuries.
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Govia Thameslink Railway)
Samantha Facey, Health Safety & Security Director at Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “We’re already seeing a higher volume of passengers due to the festive season, and whilst our staff on the ground are there to help, it’s important people are doing their bit to keep themselves safe. We had over 150 incidents of slips, trips and falls on the network last winter and these can be extremely dangerous on the railway.
“Please leave plenty of time to travel so you don’t need to run for a train and always stay behind the yellow safety line to protect yourselves and other travellers. Following these simple steps will help you to get home safely this Christmas.”
Safety bosses say they are particularly focused on spreading the safety message to young children, families, and infrequent travellers who may not be as familiar with rail safety rules.” As well as staying behind the yellow line, the joint guidance from UK train operators is asking passengers to avoid distractions such as mobile phones, when near the platform edge, hold children’s hands and keep luggage and pushchairs secure to avoid accidental slips, and to wait for the train to come to a complete stop before approaching the doors.
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