The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) will soon publish a safety digest on three “trap and drag” incidents that happened on the London Overground within a week of each other.
At around 09:11 hrs on 23 June 2022, a person on the platform at Seven Sisters station placed their hand between the closing doors of a train which was about to depart. The train subsequently departed with the person’s hand still trapped in the doors. The person ran alongside the train, freeing their hand after a few seconds, and the train stopped shortly afterwards.
At around 06:26 hrs on 27 June 2022, a person on the platform at Wembley Central station placed an object, which appeared to be a walking pole, between a set of closing doors on a departing train. The person tried unsuccessfully to remove the object, and the train departed with it still trapped in the doors. The train stopped after it had moved a short distance along the platform.
At around 13:46 hrs on 29 June 2022, a person on the platform at Crouch Hill station placed their umbrella between the closing doors of a train that was about to depart. The person tried to remove the umbrella but the train again moved a short distance along the platform with the item trapped in the doors before it came to a stand.
There were no significant injuries resulting from any of these incidents.
We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding these incidents. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.
The safety digest will be made available on the RAIB website in the near future.
