RAIB SAFETY DIGEST: PASSENGER TRAPPED IN DOORS AND DRAGGED AT ENFIELD TOWN STATION, 17 JULY 2024

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular: NP/273/24

13^th November 2024

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

RAIB SAFETY DIGEST: PASSENGER TRAPPED IN DOORS AND DRAGGED AT ENFIELD TOWN STATION, 17 JULY 2024

 

Please see below a safety digest from RAIB into a ‘trap and drag’ event that took place at Enfield Town station on 17^th July 2024 on an Arriva Rail London 8-car class 710 Aventra train, which is a DOO (Driver-Only Dispatch) service: 

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-digest-092024-enfield-town/passenger-trapped-in-doors-and-dragged-at-enfield-town-station-17-july-2024

 

The report makes no mention of the inherent additional risk of DOD and blames the driver for not checking his in-cab cameras correctly. 

 

There are inherent weaknesses in the DOD operating mode, which relies on one member of staff (the driver) to monitor the platform train interface at the same time as driving the train and observing the signals.

 

In this case, a platform dispatcher, and/or guard would probably have prevented this serious accident. 

 

            At its meeting on 7^th November 2024, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its health and safety sub-committee:

 

We note the RAIB report and also the lead officer’s report, for which he is thanked. We reiterate this union’s policy to never cease to fight for the retention of train managers, guards and conductors.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to raise the inherent weakness of the DOD operating mode, which relies on one member of staff (the driver) to monitor the PTI at the same time as driving the train and observing the signals. This to be done via communication to all TOCs and open access operators, copied to the RSSB, ORR and RAIB.

 

Members, branches and regional councils to be informed.   

 

I am acting in line with these instructions; please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

            Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Lynch 

General Secretary