Mind the gap! Filling the dreaded gap at train platforms
by: on
Falling through the gap between a train platform and a train is a far too common occurrence. It is a terrifying incident where unfortunately children and the elderly are the most vulnerable.
Australian train platforms have been left with this substantial safety concern for far too long and it is time something is done about it.
Australian Bollards is leading the way in making Australia a safer place by introducing the Metro platform guard.
This revolutionary solution will
increase commuter safety in two major ways.
Firstly, rubber prongs will stick out
past the platform dramatically reducing the size of the gap between the
platform and the train.
Australian Standards dictate other
areas of construction to not allow gaps greater than 125mm.
Here at Australian Bollards we find it
unacceptable that Australian train platforms allow for gaps greater than that
distance and we are making a commitment to have all Australian train platforms
to not allow a gap greater than 125mm.
Our team members have personally
measured five train stations in Melbourne to get an indication of train and
platform gaps. The gap at all five stations were above the 125mm distance.
North Richmond station had a gap of
130mm, Jolimont station– 160mm, Clifton Hill station 200mm and Collingwood and
Victoria park had staggering gaps, more than double 125mm distance of 300 and
340mm respectively.
As different train stations around
Australia have different size gaps we can customise the size of the solution to
ensure all gaps are reduced to well below the 125mm distance despite the
original gap size.
The clever rubber pronged design
allows movement of the rubber if hit by a train while remaining solid
underfoot.
A Daily Telegraph article investigated
the extent of how dangerous train platforms gaps are and the numbers are
staggering.
The article states: ‘Last year an
incredible 223 children fell beneath trains at stations … the number of
injuries rose from 72 in 2015 to 81 last year.’ And these numbers are just from
Sydney platforms. And after measuring just five train station platform gaps, it
is no wonder why these numbers are so high.
The other way the solution will
increase safety is the line indicating a safe place to stand behind will be
marked with flashing LED lights instead of just paint.
Not only will this more clearly
indicate the line for commuters but lights will flash to indicate to commuters
that a train is coming.
This will greatly benefit deaf people who
can’t hear trains coming.
Australian Bollards has done extensive work with train stations around the country and the introduction of the LED platform guard is an extension of our commitment to make Australians train commutes a safer experience.