A blind man fell off a prepare platform and was fatally struck by a prepare as a result of he was most likely ‘unaware that he was near the platform edge’, a brand new report has revealed.
The person fell off the sting of platform considered one of Eden Park Station in Bromley and was virtually instantly struck by a passenger prepare at round 7.05pm on Wednesday, February 26 2020.
A report from the Rail Accident Incident Department say he doubtless fell as a result of the platform edge was not fitted with ‘tactile’ markings meant to help visually impaired individuals.
The report from the federal government company launched right now (February 19), really useful that extra tactile surfaces, which assist visually impaired individuals navigate platforms, be put in place at stations.
In keeping with native stories on the time, the person is believed to have heard one other prepare pulling in on the reverse platform and had mistaken it for a prepare on his platform.
Eden Park Station, Bromley
(Picture: Rail Accident Investigation Department)
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After he fell, he was struck ‘virtually instantly’ by the 7pm Southeastern service from Hayes to London Charing Cross.
London Ambulance Service employees have been additionally delayed for over 12 minutes after emergency providers employees have been unable to find out whether or not the railway’s energy provide had been turned off till a member of Community Rail employees arrived on the scene.
In addition to asking for tactile surfaces on the fringe of station platforms to be put in, the report made 5 further suggestions, together with measures be taken to cut back the dangers to visually impaired individuals the place tactile surfaces haven’t been put in.
It additionally requested for extra data to be made publicly out there for visually impaired individuals to determine whether or not it’s protected to journey.
Lack of tactile surfaces a ‘life and dying subject’
London TravelWatch director, Emma Gibson mentioned: “Because the incident at Eden Park Station reveals, the dearth of tactile surfaces at stations is a life and dying subject. We’d prefer to see the timetable for set up of tactile paving sped up, with step one being to publish particulars of which stations have it and which don’t. In addition to an inventory of stations during which it will likely be put in first.”
Simon French, Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents mentioned: “This tragic accident resulted within the dying of somebody who had impaired imaginative and prescient and mobility, and relied on the railway to move him safely. My ideas are along with his household, and others who knew and have been near him, as we publish our investigation report.
“Our investigation concluded that the absence of a tactile strip alongside the platform edge could have been an element on this accident. These strips are used to supply visually impaired passengers with a sign that they’re approaching the platform edge. Eden Park is way from distinctive: round half of all mainline stations within the UK are additionally not geared up with this helpful help to the visually impaired.
“Our investigation discovered that the federal government and the railway trade have insurance policies in place to make rail journey extra accessible for individuals with disabilities. Nevertheless, there seems to have been no coherent technique for the supply of tactile strips, regardless of their apparent significance to visually impaired individuals who worth the chance to journey independently, with out reliance on employees.
“Though RAIB recognises that the rapid provision of tactile strips throughout the community can be very costly, there’s a must develop a brand new coverage to information determination makers. This might inform the event of a programme for set up of tactile strips, significantly at locations the place the danger is more likely to be greater, reminiscent of busy unstaffed stations. It can not at all times make sense merely to attend till platforms are refurbished to put in the strips.
“Whereas accessibility has rightly been promoted lately, it will be significant that security is correctly thought of when the trade is wanting on the preparations and services that they supply for disabled or impaired passengers. The well-established precept that further measures ought to be supplied to guard rail passengers, the place fairly practicable to take action, applies to all. It is because of this that we’re urging a re-think on the method to provision of tactile strips to make sure that they’re put in the place most wanted.”
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