Summary
At around 0952 on Tuesday 1 July 2025, a London Overground passenger train departed from Norwood Junction station with a portable access ramp attached. The ramp collided with the end-of-platform barrier and fell beside the track. No injuries were caused, although a member of station staff and a passenger needed to take action to avoid the ramp as it travelled down the platform. The portable access ramp was damaged beyond repair, and minor damage was caused to the train as a result of the accident.
RAIB’s investigation found that a portable access ramp being attached at a doorway did not prevent the train’s door from closing or from traction power being taken, because the ramp was of the incorrect type. Platform staff were unaware that the ramp they were using was of the incorrect type for the train involved. The correct ramp had not been available since September 2021 and none of the station checks in the period up to the accident had identified this.
The train driver departed from Norwood Junction station with the ramp still attached as they believed it was safe to dispatch the train. The driver’s safety checks during dispatch were ineffective. Although some other factors may have been present, this was probably because the driver was distracted as they were making a mobile phone call at the time the train departed.
Efforts by platform staff to stop the train were ineffective because the warning signals they were using could not be seen by the driver, due to the cropped image presented to them on their in-cab monitor.
There were three underlying factors. Arriva Rail London, the operator of the London Overground concession at the time of the accident, had not identified the risks associated with using portable access ramps. Processes for checking portable access ramps at stations did not identify the appropriate ramp for the relevant rolling stock. Arriva Rail London’s processes for mitigating the risk of driver inattention caused by the use of mobile devices had also not been sufficiently effective.
Recommendations
RAIB has made six recommendations. The first two recommendations are addressed to First Rail London, the current operator of the London Overground concession, and aim to better manage the use of portable access ramps. The third and fourth recommendations, addressed respectively to the Department for Transport and the Rail Safety and Standards Board, aim to address the legislation and regulations around portable access ramps. The fifth and sixth recommendations, addressed respectively to the Rail Safety and Standards Board and the Office of Rail and Road, aim to address the use of mobile devices by drivers.
RAIB also identified two learning points. The first is that railway staff are reminded of the risks presented by distracting personal issues, and the importance of seeking help from their employer. The second is to remind train drivers that mobile devices are a major source of distraction and that their use is not permitted during operations.
Notes to editors
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The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
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RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.
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