Passengers running to make the train on time, hurling cases onto the station escalators and obstructing doors are all common sights during a rail journey.
But these risky behaviours can lead to injury – two people a day in the UK are harmed at train stations because of travellers compromising their safety to save time or effort.
Some 31 per cent of passengers blame their ‘inner voice’ for urging them to do such things.
Only 20 per cent admit to getting stuck in a closing train door, but 25 per cent say they have witnessed it first-hand.
According to new research by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), 800 injuries take place on the network each year that are preventable.
Despite the hundreds of painful incidents, not many passengers seem to realise the dangers of their actions.
The data, collected from a survey of 2,000 UK adults, revealed 32 per cent didn’t know running for a train could lead to injury.
Meanwhile, 27 per cent admitted to not realising taking heavy luggage or buggies on the escalator would be unsafe or have implications.
Two people a day in the UK are harmed at train stations because of travellers compromising their safety to save time or effort
In an attempt to encourage travellers to slow down and travel safely, GTR has partnered with award-winning comedian Diane Morgan
But, around half of passengers say running for a train is embarrassing, and 79 per cent think the same about getting stuck in a train door.
GTR’s top stations for accidents are Gatwick Airport, Brighton, East Croydon and Victoria.
In an attempt to encourage travellers to slow down and travel safely, GTR has partnered with Last One Laughing star Diane Morgan.
In the video, travellers are encouraged to allow extra time for journeys, avoid rushing, and prioritise safety the next time they catch a train.
The UK’s largest train operator is set to release its first-ever train safety film, Travel Safe with Diane Morgan. It will be available to watch on Monday, March 23.
Diane, known for her dry wit, will star in the video, which shows the beloved comic on the verge of committing common station safety no-nos.
She gets involved with all the classic risky train passenger behaviours, from sprinting down the platform to forcing the closing doors, before being hilariously interrupted.
It’s a light-hearted way to shine light on the different choices the nation can make when travelling by train.
Speaking about the campaign, Diane Morgan says: ‘As has been well publicised, I have always been a strong advocate for rail safety.
‘Unlike some of my comedy contemporaries, who would love to see passengers fall down stairs or get their head trapped in the closing doors, I have always made it quite clear that rail safety is my number one priority.’
She describes the short films as a ‘culmination of my life’s work’.
The comedian goes on to urge train passengers to watch and ‘Enjoy them’.
Samantha Facey, Health, Safety and Security Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, adds: ‘Most injuries we see from these behaviours are preventable and we’re committed to helping our customers travel safely.
‘We know that people are busy, journeys can be rushed, and some of these habits are so ingrained that they stop feeling like risks at all.
‘That’s exactly why we needed a different approach, and working with Diane gave us something powerful – a chance to make people laugh at behaviour they might recognise in themselves, and in doing so, genuinely think twice.
‘We want customers to pause, take their time, and travel safely, and I hope this film is a step towards that. If you’ve ever sprinted for a train, wrestled luggage onto an escalator, or tested a closing door, watch the film. It might just change your mind.’
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