‘Please mind the gap between the train and the platform’

[Skimpot flyer]

Travelling on trains on the suburban lines out of King’s Cross last night and this morning, I have heard announcements about being aware of the step down from the train to the platform.
Is this a national thing, in response to publicity about accidents at Ealing Broadway, where there is a big difference between the Elizabeth Line trains and the platform level?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Travelling on trains on the suburban lines out of King’s Cross last night and this morning, I have heard announcements about being aware of the step down from the train to the platform.
Is this a national thing, in response to publicity about accidents at Ealing Broadway, where there is a big difference between the Elizabeth Line trains and the platform level?

It's common and has been for years, particularly at stations like Wolverton, Berkhamsted fast lines and Clapham Jn P17 where it's a gaping chasm where ropes and a helmet may be advisable.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

But an announcement on approaching Finsbury Park, Potters Bar and Hatfield ?
I’m sure I’ve not heard that before

 

[DLyle44004]

Had the same announcement on a Class 231 and that's got level boarding.

 

[1955LR]

It would very unusual not to hear the " mind the gap" or "mind the large step" on any journey in my neck of the woods , ie Hereford & its radiating lines plus Cambrian & Heart of Wales.

 

[Purple Train]

I can't remember where it was - I think on Hull Trains - where, at every station, the gap/step was described as "unusually large". Rather defeated the point.

 

[101DMU]

I travelled from York to Durham last night on TPE and a similar message was played at all stops.

 

[Purple Train]

I travelled from York to Durham last night on TPE and a similar message was played at all stops.

It's the same announcer on both TPE and Hull Trains, so it was probably the former I remember, then.

 

[work-traveller]

The 'mind the gap' announcement makes sense at stations with an abnormal gap, i.e. platforms on a tight radius. Reason being is it highlights a real world hazard at the location it exists.
What doesn't make sense is the West Midlands Railway automated announcements at every station: 'Please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge. Step onto the platform before removing heavy luggage or pushchairs'. Reason being, a) it's broadcast at every station and so has no impact and is simply 'white noise', b) it's almost certainly the result of an over-vocal risk averse employee, & c) is a low-value announcement that unnneccarily fills passengers ears for too much of their journey.

 

[Mojo]

a) it's broadcast at every station and so has no impact and is simply 'white noise', b) it's almost certainly the result of an over-vocal risk averse employee, & c) is a low-value announcement that unnneccarily fills passengers ears for too much of their journey.

lt also creates a risk as if it’s announced everywhere customers may not appreciate the difference at a location where the gap / step is genuinely large and somewhere that extra care is actually required.

l’m reminded of an issue in the workplace where there was three sinks in a toilet but for some reason one or the hot taps was extra hot, almost scalding temperature. Someone made a sign about hot water and stuck it to the tiles over the sink which reduced the complaints. A few years later the company installed their own official signs about hot water and put them above all three sinks and lo and behold people started getting hurt again…

 

[Bikeman78]

lt also creates a risk as if it’s announced everywhere customers may not appreciate the difference at a location where the gap / step is genuinely large and somewhere that extra care is actually required.

l’m reminded of an issue in the workplace where there was three sinks in a toilet but for some reason one or the hot taps was extra hot, almost scalding temperature. Someone made a sign about hot water and stuck it to the tiles over the sink which reduced the complaints. A few years later the company installed their own official signs about hot water and put them above all three sinks and lo and behold people started getting hurt again…

See also "very hot water" labels attached to boilers in workplace kitchens. No s*** Sherlock. As for announcements, it's a lost cause. The options are, live with it, or drive.

 

[HullRailMan]

It's the same announcer on both TPE and Hull Trains, so it was probably the former I remember, then.

It is indeed played at every stop on Hull Trains. I’m not sure what their definition of ‘unusually large’ is.

 

[Purple Train]

It is indeed played at every stop on Hull Trains. I’m not sure what their definition of ‘unusually large’ is.

80x units do seem to have quite a step on average. That being said, based on their definition of "unusually large", I dread to think what their reaction to the up platform at Kew Bridge, for one, would be!

 

[philthetube]

It's common and has been for years, particularly at stations like Wolverton, Berkhamsted fast lines and Clapham Jn P17 where it's a gaping chasm where ropes and a helmet may be advisable.

If I remember correctly clapham junction is the gap between the platform and the train, always strikes me as odd.

 

[dcs34]

But an announcement on approaching Finsbury Park, Potters Bar and Hatfield ?
I’m sure I’ve not heard that before

Its been fairly standard at most of the Great Northern network for the last few years, probably since the 717s were introduced perhaps.

 

[Deepgreen]

It's the old syndrome of drowning in announcements to the point that they become ignored and therefore pointless. Just there to cover TOCs'/NR's people in the event of a law suit, and even then it may not be enough, especially if it is argued that they are ignored because of their ubiquity.

 

[BrianW]

It's the old syndrome of drowning in announcements to the point that they become ignored and therefore pointless. Just there to cover TOCs'/NR's people in the event of a law suit, and even then it may not be enough, especially if it is argued that they are ignored because of their ubiquity.

Might this be mitigated by making announcements only when gaps/ steps exceed those 'allowed' by the standard?

Slightly off-tangent I hear TGV trains in France were diverted today onto 'standard' lower-speed tracks. Could that be envisaged for HS2 trains (which I understand to be at Elizabeth Line platform heights?) when 'transitioning' onto the 'classic network' with 'classic' platform heights, inlieu of Phase2whatever? How ridiculous to build non-standard height platforms. As rebuilding platforms to the standard height/ clearances has been deemed a poor return on investment in passenger safety, why are not new trains built to the platform heights pertaining? Roll on a Great Rail Supremo!!

 

[Kieran_MF135]

It's the old syndrome of drowning in announcements to the point that they become ignored and therefore pointless. Just there to cover TOCs'/NR's people in the event of a law suit, and even then it may not be enough, especially if it is argued that they are ignored because of their ubiquity.

unless you fell due to staff failed to assit and did not want to use ramp and ended up falling between train and platfrom

 

[Sean Emmett]

Trains approaching Bristol Temple Meads have a lengthy pre-recorded announcement about the unusually large gap between train and platform and (in case of difficulty) asks to pax assist fellow pax or alert member of staff.

 

[barbette165]

The 'mind the gap' announcement makes sense at stations with an abnormal gap, i.e. platforms on a tight radius. Reason being is it highlights a real world hazard at the location it exists.
What doesn't make sense is the West Midlands Railway automated announcements at every station: 'Please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge. Step onto the platform before removing heavy luggage or pushchairs'. Reason being, a) it's broadcast at every station and so has no impact and is simply 'white noise', b) it's almost certainly the result of an over-vocal risk averse employee, & c) is a low-value announcement that unnneccarily fills passengers ears for too much of their journey.

When Chiltern call at the same stations, for some stations a 'mind the gap' message is played at others just the station is announced. At none do they play the "and step onto the platform before..." message. Chiltern train managers also release the passenger doors at the same time as opening their door, whereas WMR managers open their door and then look down the platform before releasing the passenger doors.
I wonder if WMR have a better station safety record than Chiltern?

 

[TUC]

My wife's guide dog fell down the gap onto the tracks on one occasion so these announcements are very important where there really is a significant gap, but having the announcement at every station is no help whatsoever. It is actually the TOC saying 'we really couldn't care less. We're just interested in covering our backsides'.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

I think Greater Anglia have specifically chosen stations for this to be played at because it says "please mind the step and the gap between the train and the platform" at Dullingham and I don't think I've heard that at any other station

 

[Deepgreen]

My wife's guide dog fell down the gap onto the tracks on one occasion so these announcements are very important where there really is a significant gap, but having the announcement at every station is no help whatsoever. It is actually the TOC saying 'we really couldn't care less. We're just interested in covering our backsides'.

Exactly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jul 2024 ==

Might this be mitigated by making announcements only when gaps/ steps exceed those 'allowed' by the standard?

Slightly off-tangent I hear TGV trains in France were diverted today onto 'standard' lower-speed tracks. Could that be envisaged for HS2 trains (which I understand to be at Elizabeth Line platform heights?) when 'transitioning' onto the 'classic network' with 'classic' platform heights, inlieu of Phase2whatever? How ridiculous to build non-standard height platforms. As rebuilding platforms to the standard height/ clearances has been deemed a poor return on investment in passenger safety, why are not new trains built to the platform heights pertaining? Roll on a Great Rail Supremo!!

Yes, of course. However, given that it seems to be impossible for the railway to get to grips with ensuring automated announcements work correctly, that probably won't happen.

 

[Essan]

I hear the message every morning when I wake up

(With the bedroom window open I can usually hear all the announcements made at Evesham station)

 

[BrianW]

I hear the message every morning when I wake up

(With the bedroom window open I can usually hear all the announcements made at Evesham station)

You may be able to encourage your local authority to take an interest in 'noise nuisance', esp if you think these announcements are not justified