Liverpool Street platform screen door failure

[Crithylum]

One of the platform screen doors has failed open, resulting in a temporary barrier and doors not releasing on the train. I thought the main reason for the PSDs was ventilation, so leaving it open and releasing doors as normal should be fine? Or is there some risk assessment that doesn't allow this despite 99% of platforms operating without doors?

 

[Craig1122]

It's about likely behaviours in the expectation that the doors are working correctly rather than the comparison with platforms without.

Passengers expect that if the doors are open then a train is in the platform. So the emergency barrier is to cater for the person who runs on to the platform last minute and potentially throws themselves at an open doorway despite there being no train behind it and ends up on the track instead.

 

[zwk500]

One of the platform screen doors has failed open, resulting in a temporary barrier and doors not releasing on the train. I thought the main reason for the PSDs was ventilation, so leaving it open and releasing doors as normal should be fine? Or is there some risk assessment that doesn't allow this despite 99% of platforms operating without doors?

There's no yellow line or tactile edge 1m from the platform edge. I don't know if there's anything at the edge itself but the lack of the normal safety features because the doors are normally there may be a factor.

 

[Horizon22]

I mean that's a wide gaping hole that allows access to the track from the platform side...

It is extremely rare for the platform screen doors to fail in this manner - individual doors occasionally do, but normally with a imperceptible gap, but enough to prevent interlock. The door will be isolated (technically overridden so the train continues to gain interlock before departure) and engineer attendance required. Might not get rectified until end of service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==

I thought the main reason for the PSDs was ventilation

That is one of the reasons, I wouldn't necessarily say it is the main one.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Trains would run at a pretty reduced speed into the platform for a door like that to be left open. They've probably tried to manually close and mechanically lock it out but its not budged.

I assume they'd have had someone with competency to check and deem it fit for slow train entry if the door was isolated and manned at all times, door gets taken out the CBTC system when they train picks up the Balise data on entry to the station and doesn't open the specfic door on the train.

 

[bleeder4]

Passengers expect that if the doors are open then a train is in the platform.

I find that comment a bit demeaning to be honest. People aren't idiots. It should be abundantly clear that there is no train waiting on the other side of the door.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I find that comment a bit demeaning to be honest. People aren't idiots. It should be abundantly clear that there is no train waiting on the other side of the door.

Unless you're partially sighted.

 

[PLY2AYS]

I find that comment a bit demeaning to be honest. People aren't idiots. It should be abundantly clear that there is no train waiting on the other side of the door.

The fact that the word ‘idiot’ exists proves to some degree that your statement isn’t entirely correct.

Unless you're partially sighted.

On another note, this is much more important. Clearly some people still forget about those hard of sight, and the fact that this is 21st Century infrastructure, which is designed in some aspects to be much more inclusive and safer/easier to navigate than other lines.

 

[David Burrows]

Regretably many people act like ideots, hence this country is obsessed by 'Health & Safety', and anything which might possibly go wrong must be prevented. The way many people rush around staring at their phones they could just catch sight of an open platform door as they rush onto a platform and might, without engaging brain as people used to do, lead them assume that a train is there. Thus, if someone might do something silly, like assuming a train is there when it isn't, it must be guarded against if at all possible.

 

[Mikw]

I find that comment a bit demeaning to be honest. People aren't idiots. It should be abundantly clear that there is no train waiting on the other side of the door.

Even an intelligent person can be an idiot sometimes.

 

[iphone76]

It was most disconcerting "driving" into the platform this morning and noticing that platform edge door open. I believe they have put a 30mph speed restriction in place whilst the door remains open.

Regarding passengers running onto trains. At almost every station, people run from the side corridors onto the train as some speed. Those yellow barriers are definitely needed. I often wonder if the people running at such speed every bang into / knock over people standing by the door.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

It was most disconcerting "driving" into the platform this morning and noticing that platform edge door open. I believe they have put a 30mph speed restriction in place whilst the door remains open.

Regarding passengers running onto trains. At almost every station, people run from the side corridors onto the train as some speed. Those yellow barriers are definitely needed. I often wonder if the people running at such speed every bang into / knock over people standing by the door.

Typical railway though, speed limit and barrier, I suppose just in case someone climbs over the barrier and jumps on the track

 

[Bald Rick]

Typical railway though, speed limit and barrier, I suppose just in case someone climbs over the barrier and jumps on the track

The speed limit will be to reduce the aerodynamic effect of a tunnel full of air being pushed at 100kph through a 3 metre wide aperture into an area with lots of unsuspecting people.

So yes, typical railway, thinking about the safety and comfort of it’s passengers.

 

[800001]

Typical railway though, speed limit and barrier, I suppose just in case someone climbs over the barrier and jumps on the track

The railway operator will have safety protocols to follow, with written contingency plans ready to be implemented when things go wrong, like with this platform door.

It will have been risk assessed many years ago before the start of passenger operation.

So no, not 'typical railway' in the context you are aiming your comment.

But yes, 'typical railway' for doing the safe, correct and right thing.

 

[QueensCurve]

I find that comment a bit demeaning to be honest. People aren't idiots. It should be abundantly clear that there is no train waiting on the other side of the door.

Human factors is a facinating subject. People do extraordinary things like for instance the Captain of a KLM 747 (senior training captain at that) who started the take-off run without clearance at Teneriffe when another aircraft was taxying on the runway.