[WatcherZero]

A PASSENGER had a miraculous escape after falling under a moving train.

Late night travellers screamed in terror as the man lost his footing as he approached the Manchester Airport to Southport DMU train, as it slowed to a stop in Wigan Wallgate station.

He slid down the side of the train and then through the gap between the carriage and the platform edge, disappearing beneath the train.

Railway authorities closed the line to rail traffic to allow firemen to undertake a complicated half-hour long rescue.

Astonishingly, the victim suffered little more than minor cuts to his neck, bruises and mild shock in the incident.

Emergency services confirmed that he appeared to be intoxicated.

Train services were disrupted for more than half an hour before the line was reopened just after midnight on Friday.

Today, rail infrastructure company Network Rail was again examining the Southport-bound platforms of the station to make sure the track had not been slewed out at that point, creating a bigger gap between train and platform than regulations allow.

That concern has already been raised with the authorities by retired train driver Coun John Hilton, who is concerned about the safety of passengers.

He said: “There is a long-standing problem with the shape of the platform, which means the track has to be pushed out so that the front of the incoming train doesn’t catch, and it definitely needs sorting.”

The passenger, who was about 35 years old, has not been named.

But a spokesman for Network Rail said: “It is important to point out that gaps between trains and platforms at stations are a safety necessity in their own right.

“Industry standards and guidance recommend what the maximum clearances between platforms and the footplates on passenger trains should be and Network Rail applies those standards at all stations. Passengers falling between trains and platforms is a very rare occurrence.”

http://www.wigantoday.net/news/miracle_escape_1_2725696

I have been complaining about the platform gap at my daily station for years, because its on a corner the gap between train and platform is 1.5-2ft wide and over a foot and a half high, a lot of passengers have to jump because the gap is too tall and wide to step down.

[blacknight]

Maybe next time passenger will wait for the train to come to a stand before moving attempting to board.

[trainophile]

the gap between train and platform is 1.5-2ft wide and over a foot and a half high

I've got off that service there and never noticed a huge gap, so is it only at one part of the platform?

If it really is that wide and high, how on earth do people with luggage, buggies, or the elderly manage to get ON the train?

It does sound like the bloke was the cause of his own fate on this occasion. Isn't that why there's a "do not cross" line painted on the platform a couple of feet back from the edge?

[sprinterguy]

The yellow lines are only painted on platforms that have high speed non-stop trains passing through, with the resulting air turbulence that these cause.

From the report, it seems that it is an over eager passenger making his way towards the train before it has stopped that is the problem, more than the actual gap between the platform and train itself.

Looking at the photo of the 156, it seems that the track is canted through the platform, which would be why there is such a difference in height. Reducing the width of the gap would require a realigning of the curve and platform to give a gentler radius, which would be fairly disruptive.

[The Barlow Boy]

If you want to see a gap try platform two at East Croydon or platform seven and eight at Clapham Junction. Low platforms, curves, track canted. I've seen people miss trains because they couldn't clamber up.

[jopsuk]

Originally Posted by sprinterguy

The yellow lines are only painted on platforms that have high speed non-stop trains passing through, with the resulting air turbulence that these cause.

No they're not- they are required at those locations, but there are many terminals and/or platforms with only stopping services that have been attacked with yellow paint throughout the country.

It's clear the key factor here- that the guy was ****ed and unable to control himself properly. Might actually have helped reduce the damage from the fall though!

Edit: also, gotta love the up-to-date photo- are there in fact yellow lines at this location these days?

[sprinterguy]

Originally Posted by jopsuk

No they're not- they are required at those locations, but there are many terminals and/or platforms with only stopping services that have been attacked with yellow paint throughout the country.

Ah fair enough: Are yellow lines at such locations as terminal stations an optional preference then, or is there any sort of requirement at certain locations that only have stopping services? Now that I think of it, I have come across yellow lines on stations like that.

[Peter Mugridge]

Originally Posted by The Barlow Boy

If you want to see a gap try platform two at East Croydon or platform seven and eight at Clapham Junction. Low platforms, curves, track canted. I've seen people miss trains because they couldn't clamber up.

Try platform 4 at Epsom, roughly where the 4th car of any train will be...

[Kernowfem]

"Emergency serives confirmed he appeared to be intoxicated" Maybe next time he shouldn't try to board the train drunk...

"Falling under a moving train" ?????? Surely he didnt try to board it before it stopped?

Both of the above hint towards the passenger being at fault as apposed to the platform.

Any more documented accidents about this particular platform, or just this one??

[Mintona]

377 on the down at Selhurst, I'm 6ft4in and I struggled to climb onto that.

[- Cal -]

it was his own fault, trying to enter a train while it was still moving and the article says he was intoxicated, not a bad gap at wallgate, try platform 3 at earlstown or the drop at flixton

[175001]

I work through Wallgate on a daily basis from Vic, and yes the gap is apparent when you step off. I've been on leave this past 2 weeks so missed all the news at work about it!

[WatcherZero]

There was a yellow line alongside a shallow drainage gutter. You can see the line of concrete where they filled it in.

[Neilandrewhall]

when was this? as the pictures look's REALLY old lol. As it isn't Northern Rail Lively?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Neilandrewhall

when was this? as the pictures look's REALLY old lol. As it isn't Northern Rail Lively?

It looks around 2005/2006