'Significant gap' on platform to be fixed after passenger injured

Further safety measures are planned to be added to a West London Elizabeth line station after a passenger's hand got stuck in a moving train. Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said at a City Hall meeting on February 27 that several safety concerns had been raised about the gap between Elizabeth line trains and the platform at Ealing Broadway station following incidents involving passengers.

The assembly member said at the meeting: "One of the more recent incidents was when somebody's hand got caught within a moving train at the station. The main issue of course though is the gap between the platform and the new trains that are serving Ealing Broadway."

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan responded to a question from Mr Mahfouz AM in October last year about the 'significant gap' at the station's platform by saying MTR Elizabeth line had put in place immediate measures to ensure safer boarding of trains at Ealing Broadway. He said permanent physical alterations to the station would be the responsibility of the station's owners, Network Rail.

Mr Mahfouz said at the meeting last month that he noticed there had been several safety improvements at the station from MTR Elizabeth line including regular announcements and additional staff. He asked what the state was of conversations between Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail for further improvements at the station.

TfL Commissioner Andy Lord said in response: "I have been in direct senior meetings with Network Rail on this issue ever since it first arose. They have done a feasibility study around what are the physical changes that could potentially be done to the platform, bearing in mind it is not necessarily just for platform 4. What are the implications of any changes for that on unintended consequences? What are the implications for other platforms at Ealing Broadway and other stations on the network?"

The TfL boss said he had not yet received an update on the study but he would be meeting with Network Rail within the next few weeks and he would update Mr Mahfouz on the topic at the end of March. He said the time and money to introduce the changes would vary depending on the solution, including the possibility of temporarily closing the line.

Mr Lord also confirmed at the meeting that TfL had plans to add ten additional trains to services running towards Heathrow Terminal 5. He said such trains would also help relieve pressure on smaller stations along the west side of the network such as West Ealing, Hanwell and Acton Main Line.

Mr Mahfouz said in response to the comments: "Elizabeth line passengers across Ealing will welcome these commitments from the TfL Commissioner to seek further interim measures to close the gap at Ealing Broadway station, plus his intention to increase services at West Ealing, Hanwell, and Acton Main Line."

He added: "Alongside funding already agreed by Network Rail to renew the tracks and signalling of the western section of the Elizabeth line, these improvements will make a huge difference to the UK’s favourite train line and for the lives of Ealing residents."

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