Woman was dragged on to railway track after bag got stuck in train doors

Dragged on to track: The accident involved a Southeastern train
Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Mark Chandler29 February 2016

A woman suffered “life-changing injuries” after she was dragged along a station platform and onto the track when her bag got caught in a Southeastern train’s doors, a report has revealed.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch published their findings this week into the West Wickham accident, which happened on April 15 last year when a train was being driven by a trainee driver and instructor.

As the woman tried to leave the carriage at 11.35am, her backpack strap got shut in the doors when they closed unexpectedly.

She shouted out for help but stumbled as the serviced pulled away, falling onto the platform and then through the gap with the train.

Another passenger stopped to comfort the injured woman but neither driver was aware of what had happened until the Cannon Street service reached its final destination, one stop later, in Hayes, with the bag still stuck in its doors.

According to investigators, the trapped woman should have been seen on platform CCTV monitors before the train started to move.

The RAIB said the accident could only have been caused because the passenger had been able to open the doors at the same time the driver tried to close them.

Following their investigation, the RAIB recommended train companies should review the way their train doors operate to stop such an accident happening again.

Train crews should also monitor train doors when they are closing, investigators said.

A spokesman for Southeastern said: “This was a terrible incident that has had a life changing effect on this young woman and our thoughts are very much with her.

“We have offered to help as much as possible since the accident and we have worked very closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to assist them in their investigation.

“We have also complied with all the recommendations and learning points they have made.”

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