AWARD YEAR
2015
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
KEYWORDS
Platform, railway, personal safety
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
James Cook, University of Huddersfield
WEBSITE
https://www.behance.net/gallery/24192677/Rail-Platform-Safety-Device
Device Improving Rail Station Safety
A device that retrofits to train platforms that prevents pushchairs, wheelchairs e.t.c. from rolling
The device, that is able to retrofit to the edge of railway platforms, prevents pushchairs, wheelchairs or similar type vehicle from rolling onto live rail tracks. This can potentially occur at any open type railway platform where a) there exists a sloping platform to the tracks, b) passing trains generate sufficient aerodynamic effect to blow or draw wheeled devices onto rail tracks (where there is no barrier between the edge of that platform and rail tracks). Over the past 10 years there have been over 20 known incidents worldwide with various injuries recorded. The device uses raised profiles in order to slow down and stop wheeled devices and prevent rail track incursions. The design is flexible, cost effective to manufacture and is intended to fit to any platform. The design is currently undergoing testing.