Incident Overview
A report published on June 22, 2026, by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has detailed a serious safety failure at London’s Norwood Junction station. On July 1, 2025, a London Overground passenger train departed the station with a portable access ramp still attached to its doorway. The ramp subsequently collided with a platform barrier and fell onto the trackside.
While no injuries were reported, the RAIB highlighted that the incident posed a high risk to staff and passengers. A member of the station staff and a passenger were forced to take immediate evasive action to avoid being struck by the falling equipment.
The Role of Distraction
The investigation confirmed that the train driver was distracted by a personal mobile phone call during the dispatch process. Although the driver initially claimed the device was switched off and stored, evidence indicated the call spanned the journey from West Croydon, including the stop at Norwood Junction. The RAIB noted that such distractions significantly reduce situational awareness and hazard perception.
Compounding the human error was the failure of safety monitoring systems. The driver’s in-cab monitor, which displays platform activity, was showing a cropped image that obscured warning signals from platform staff attempting to halt the train.
Systemic Safety Failures
The RAIB identified that the ramp used was incompatible with the train’s rolling stock, an issue that had gone undetected since 2021. Furthermore, the ramp’s design did not trigger the train’s safety interlocks, meaning the doors could close and traction power could be engaged despite the obstruction.
The RAIB has issued six formal recommendations. These include improved management of portable access ramps by First Rail London and new regulatory measures from the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail and Road regarding mobile device usage by train operators.