Safety warnings after passenger dragged by train

Measures on the Elizabeth line to control the risk of passengers being trapped and dragged by a train were not effective at a station in west London, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has said.

The warning followed an independent investigation after a passenger was trapped in a train door and dragged about 12m (39ft) along the platform at Ealing Broadway station at about 00:10 GMT on 24 November 2024.

The westbound Elizabeth line train's doors closed on the passenger's hand as they attempted to board and it departed while they were trapped, the RAIB said.

Transport for London (TfL) said new signage and platform markings had been introduced at the station following the incident.

The RAIB said the passenger was eventually freed from the moving train by a member of platform staff and another passenger. It previously said the passenger had been dragged approximately 17m (56ft).

The report added that it was "probable" the passenger suffered a minor injury, but they had been uncontactable.

The RAIB said the incident occurred because the driver closed the doors while passengers were still leaving and boarding the train, and because the passenger tried to board while the doors were closing.

The train's door system did not detect the passenger's hand, and the driver was not aware of the issue before moving the train, the report said.

The RAIB added that measures used by the then-operator of the Elizabeth line, MTR, to control the risk of passengers being trapped and dragged "were not effective".

Within five recommendations, the RAIB called on the new operator of the Elizabeth line, GTS Rail Operations, to improve how the risk of "trap-and-drag" events are understood and controlled.

The RAIB also called on TfL to enhance the views of the platform and train seen by train drivers and evaluate technological options.

Trish Ashton, TfL's director of rail, apologised for the "distressing incident" and said that TfL and MTR "fully co-operated with the RAIB investigation to help ensure this does not happen again".

She added: "We are working with our current operator, GTS, and Network Rail to address the recommendations made in the RAIB report."

The Rail Safety and Standards Board said it was "committed to working collaboratively with industry partners to act on the RAIB's recommendations".

MTR was contacted for comment. GTS Rail Operations, which took over Elizabeth line operations in May 2025, said it would not comment separately from TfL.

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