Two weeks ago it was revealed that the number of
accidents at the Platform Train Interface had risen from 56 in 2003 to 298 in
2014 which seemed striking compared to the rise in passenger numbers; 942m in
2003, 1.26bn in 2014. RMT blamed the
rise on a “poisonous cocktail of
station staffing cuts and severe overcrowding” but I’m not sure that is the
main cause. Looking at the figures for the
intervening years in 2004 the number climbed to 91 but never rose higher than
103 until 2010 when it hit 119. 2011 it
went up slightly to 123, then up to 154 in 2012 followed by a big jump to 223
in 2013 and finally all the way up to 298.
From my own observations I think
the answer is a little less obvious; smart phones. Back in 2003 the most you could do with your
mobile was call or send texts, today we can surf the net or listen to music on
our phones and what I’ve noticed as I pull into the platforms in the last few years is a lot more people
wearing headphones or starting at intently at their hand. In June 2012 LU started rolling out Wi-Fi on 40
stations, the year before we had that big jump in accidents, by the end of 2014 it was available on 150 and today there
are only a few stations where you can’t get connected.
Rather than a lack of staff or overcrowding I suspect
that more people are not paying attention to what is going on around them and
consequently they don’t hear the chimes warning them that the doors are about
to close or they don’t see the gap between train and platform. Technology may have given us smart phones but
sadly it cannot make the people using them less stupid than they already are.
Careful now….
Wonderful bit of insight. And I suspect you are spot-on!
ReplyDeleteAlthough without doubt common sense would tell you that more visible staff would and do help. When doing SAT's, often I have to get people's attention who are wired up listening to music or busy playing games standing ahead of the yellow line. Once I have their attention I politely inform them to move back behind the line thus preventing any incidents.
DeleteI'm not sure how much SATS help, they can only personally intervene with people in the immediate proximity, can't do much about someone more than a car away. Ironically the people I am most likely to see stood the wrong side of the yellow line are wearing a uniform, holding a baton and telling people to stand behind the yellow line!
DeleteAlso I don't believe in common sense, I can thoroughly recommend reading "Everything is obvious (once you know the answer)" by Duncan J. Watts, very illuminating.
I think that common sense is quite a strong factor regarding accidents. How many times have you seen people running down cross passages, charging full pelt at a set of doors that are already practically closed. People using their prams like battering rams or just people in general who try to force themselves onto a train through a 2 inch gap.
DeleteDivide and rule.....here we go again. Management just love people like you. Perhaps you are management having a pop at station staff just at a time when they are cutting station staff and imposing some of the worse rosters you will ever come across. Well done you! Pat yourself on the back.....
ReplyDeleteSome station staff are useless though? Often with London Underground you see someone who is a useless CSA and the next time you see them they've become a useless manager. Being a blithering incompetent is no impediment in LU.
DeleteI have to say the vast majority of station staff who I come across are very good. Whenever I have a problem or need to take my train OOS they are usually very prompt to assist and do so efficiently. Granted there are a few who seemed to be on another planet but christ some of the train ops I have met over time show the same charaters so a case of not tarring everybody with the same brush if you please!
DeleteOh indeed, most are very good, It's just unfortunate that the good ones never seem to be the ones who advance in the company. As you say Train Ops can be just as bad, especially when I'm attempting to lift a 15 stone PIOT off the train on my own and the train driver just stands there gawping at me
DeleteYou shouldn'nt be lifting a 15 stone PIOT off the train in the first place.I would just stand their and look at you!
DeleteYou could damage your back.
Sounds like LUL should revisit the 'business case' (how much for a leg, guv?) for fitting PEDs regardless of the whole ATO conundrum.
ReplyDeleteEspecially since Londoners' attitude to door buzzers can be summed up as 'if it goes off, run faster'.
Or just having ear-muffs on, so that we (they) can't hear all the FAR TOO LOUD, FAR TOO FREQUENT & 150%-unnecessary station "announcements".
DeleteAbout a fortnight back I was completely disoriented @ Victoria by a superfluous so-called "announcement" going off directly over my head at the top of the Vic-line escalators. ( I would guess well over 100dBa ) - I stopped dead & it took me several seconds to re-start my travel towards the gates.
I wonder how long before industrial deafness shows up in platform staff?