First reported 19 Nov 2019•Latest report 18 May 2021
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of warning signs or equivalent public-facing warning arrangements specifically intended to communicate live-rail presence and electrocution risk at railway stations, including their wording, prominence, legibility, placement and visibility from entrances, platforms and areas where people may access the tracks.
Not included
Excludes general railway platform-edge markings, tactile paving and safe-area demarcation where live-rail electrocution warning is not the deficient control.
Excludes generic railway trespass, track-access, signalling or station-safety concerns without a material live-rail electrocution-warning deficiency.
Excludes warnings for non-railway electrical hazards and product or workplace electrical-safety signage.
Excludes failures limited to public awareness or behaviour where the railway-station warning arrangement itself is not deficient.
Reports
3
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2019–2021
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
4
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
First MTR South Western Trains Limited1
London & South Eastern Railway Limited1
Network Rail1
Office of Rail and Road1
Train operating company2
Rail infrastructure manager1
Transport regulator1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
Lack of effective live-rail warning signage at the railway station
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Trial under-platform warning signage at ten Wessex locations, including Hinton Admiral.
Stated by Network RailStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 24 May 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Existing signs at Hinton Admiral warn of electrocution, contrary to the concern that the station lacked signage warning of live-rail risks.
Stated by Network RailDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Network Rail considers compliant platform-end signs and consistent industry-standard signage sufficient, so additional wording about risk to life is not required.
Stated by Network RailExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
South Western Railway is responsible for signs at Hinton Admiral and for applying the relevant standards under its franchise agreement.
Stated by Network RailRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North East Kent
Concerns raised3
Insufficient and outdated live-rail electrocution warning signage
Failure to make live-rail death warnings sufficiently prominent
Unavailability of visible under-platform warning signage
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Replace three warning signs at Canterbury East station entrances with the new design.
Stated by London & Southeastern Railway Limited trading as SoutheasternStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 January 2021.
Action
Engage with the wider rail industry to establish a project reviewing and replacing station warning signs with more informative alternatives.
Stated by London & Southeastern Railway Limited trading as SoutheasternStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 January 2021.
Action
Replace three Canterbury East entrance warning signs with the revised design, using “Warning” and greater prominence for electrocution risk.
Stated by London & South Eastern Railway LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 January 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The claim that Canterbury East lacked effective live-rail warning signage is disputed because four warning signs were already present before the accident.
Stated by London & South Eastern Railway LimitedDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Under-platform signage is Network Rail’s responsibility because the relevant platform faces are its assets.
Stated by London & South Eastern Railway LimitedRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Further under-platform signage cannot be undertaken because Network Rail refused it over maintenance and structural-defect risks.
Stated by London & South Eastern Railway LimitedUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Berkshire
Concerns raised1
Lack of visible warnings about live-rail electrocution risk in platform waiting areas
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correction
Includes failures of warning signs or equivalent public-facing warning arrangements specifically intended to communicate live-rail presence and electrocution risk at railway stations, including their wording, prominence, legibility, placement and visibility from entrances, platforms and areas where people may access the tracks.
