Mind the gap: Mayor apologises to hurt Elizabeth Line passengers

The Mayor of London has apologised to Elizabeth line passengers who have been seriously injured using trains at a west London station and says work is being done to make sure the high gap will be fixed.

Three passengers have told BBC London they have been hurt using Elizabeth Line trains at Ealing Broadway station because the gap between the platform and trains is too big.

Sadiq Khan said he was “shocked” to see reports on BBC London of those injured, adding: “I’m really sorry. You should not be injured going about your daily business.”

Earlier this week, Transport for London and Network Rail both said they were “sorry” some passengers had sustained injuries and safety was their “priority”.

They said they were reviewing what could be done to reduce the gap.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh also said she would be taking the matter up with Network Rail.

It comes after Lucy Daramola told BBC London she was knocked unconscious and hospitalised after cutting her shins getting on the train in July 2022.

Rolf Kern also had to go to hospital after he badly gashed his shin trying to board an Elizabeth line train, and Eric Leach was injured when he stepped off an Elizabeth line train onto the platform at Ealing Broadway. He broke a bone in his foot and he collapsed on the platform.

Speaking to BBC London, Mr Khan said: “The issue is this is an older station, rather than one of our newer stations, and you know the difference in height between the train and the platform.”

Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL) Andy Lord is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe and reliable transport services in London and the mayor said he had been made aware of the incidents.

Mr Khan continued by saying he had been in “close contact with the commissioner and had discussions with him” and that TfL was also “working really closely with the train operator MTR, but also Network Rail, to resolve this issue”.

He said part of the solution was expected to include resolving “the issue of the height of the older platform”.

“In the meantime, I’m really sorry to those three passengers who have been hurt – awful injuries, it shouldn’t have happened – but the good news is Network Rail is now getting to grips with this.”

Mr Khan made the comments at his first meeting in public with the new transport secretary, Louise Haigh, during which they rode on one of the capital’s new Superloop buses.

A Network Rail spokesperson said earlier this week: “Safety is our number one priority and we previously met with the station user group to listen to their concerns.

“We are not currently funded to do improvements to the platforms, however we are working closely with our partners at TfL and MTR-Elizabeth line to review what might be done as part of our joint safety improvement plan.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “Safety is a priority for us and while the height difference between the train and the platform at this station complies with the required safety standards we are working with our operator, MTR-Elizabeth line, and Network Rail to see if it is possible to raise the platform at Ealing Broadway.

“We have also developed a range of enhancements at the station to increase customer safety. This includes the installation of a new barrier to enhance the management of passenger flow, and the extension of a handrail.”