A tragic accident occurred at Banbury station in Oxfordshire when a pram carrying a two-month-old infant was struck by a train. The incident, which left the child with a minor head injury, was witnessed by helpless passengers. According to a report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, the accident happened as the pram rolled towards the platform edge and made contact with the moving train. The collision caused the pram to spin and tip over, resulting in the infant falling onto the platform surface.
CCTV footage revealed that moments before the accident, the infant’s parent had momentarily released the pram, allowing it to move towards the platform edge. The report highlighted the lack of signage and warnings at the station to alert passengers, especially pram users, about the sloping platform edges. The report recommended measures such as platform markings, signage, and station announcements to communicate the hazards and influence passenger behavior.
The investigation also examined the recorded station announcements made by Chiltern Railways, which reminded passengers to secure their belongings and apply brakes to prams, buggies, and wheelchairs on station platforms. However, the announcement did not specifically address the risk posed by sloping platform edges.
Despite post-accident inspections and safety assessments, no changes were made to remedy the platform slopes at Banbury station before the accident occurred. Network Rail reported that there was no reasonable opportunity to address the slopes between the last assessment and the incident. Following the accident, Chiltern Railways installed additional signage in customer lifts to warn passengers about aerodynamic risks from passing trains but did not specifically address the platform crossfall slopes.
Similar incidents at other train stations have been identified by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, emphasizing the need for station operators to understand and address platform hazards. The report concluded that station operators should follow appropriate standards and guidance for platform markings, signage, and announcements to ensure passenger safety.
In light of the Banbury incident, the importance of collaborative efforts between station operators and infrastructure managers to control risks associated with sloping platforms was highlighted. Network Rail and Chiltern Railways have been contacted for further comments on the matter.
This tragic accident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring safety measures are in place at train stations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
