Passengers urged to “lend a helping hand” to reduce festive falls
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and Network Rail has launched its Christmas
campaign reminding people to take extra care in stations to reduce festive falls and “Lend a
Helping Hand” to each other, as new figures reveal that the average number of “slips, trips and
fall” incidents is 20% higher in the month of December than any other month.
Over the past five years rail passengers have stepped on and off trains more than 15 billion
times. The figures show that on average members of the public report 396 accidents within the
2,500 stations on the rail network each month. However, this average jumps to 480 for the
month of December. December 2014 saw the highest number of recorded incidents in ten years,
with over 550 slips, trips and falls within stations.
There are a number of factors which contribute to a rise in the number of slips, trips and falls in
stations during December:

an increase in the number of leisure travellers, who are less familiar with using stations

an increase in the number of passengers with luggage travelling home or visiting
family and friends

station visitors are laden with heavy shopping bags

icy and wet weather conditions

it’s the festive party season
RSSB’s Director of Research and Standards Mark Phillips commented, “As it’s Christmas party
season and we move closer to the festive getaway, the risk of slipping or falling at a station
increases.
“With December confirmed as having the highest level of accidents, we have created the “Lend
a Helping Hand” campaign which aims to reach out to every member of the travelling public.
However, we can’t afford to be complacent and must bear this advice in mind all year round.”
T: +44 (0)20 3142 5300
F: +44 (0)20 3142 5663
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
The Helicon, 1 South Place
Registered office:
The Helicon, 1 South Place
www.rssb.co.uk
London EC2M 2RB
London EC2M 2RB
Reg No. 04655675
Graham Hopkins, Director of Safety at Network Rail said: “Stations get really busy at this time of
year. People carrying extra luggage, or lots of Christmas presents, coupled with bad weather and
perhaps a drink or two, can all lead to an increase in accidents.
“We’re doing all we can to remove potential hazards in stations, keeping the floor dry and
encouraging station staff to help where they can, but we need passengers to do their bit too.
Please don’t rush for your train, especially if you have luggage; be extra cautious if you’ve had a
few drinks; and in the spirit of Christmas, consider your fellow passengers. If you see someone
struggling with bags, prams, luggage or they just seem a little unsteady on their feet, lend a
helping hand or ask a member of the station staff to.”
CCTV footage will be available from Friday 18 December via the Network Rail Media Centre
(http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/) and can be provided upon request.
For further information about the ‘Lend a Helping Hand’ campaign please visit
http://www.lendahelpinghand.co.uk/ #helpie
-Ends-
For further information, please contact Emma Martin, RSSB Media Relations Manager via
emma.martin@rssb.co.uk or 020 3142 5594 and Donna Mitchell, Network Rail Media Relations
Manager (Campaigns) via donna.mitchell@networkrail.co.uk or 033 085 43833.
Notes to Editors:
No of slips, trips and falls in
2014
377
361
393
380
404
404
451
441
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
T: +44 (0)20 3142 5300
F: +44 (0)20 3142 5663
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
The Helicon, 1 South Place
Registered office:
The Helicon, 1 South Place
www.rssb.co.uk
London EC2M 2RB
London EC2M 2RB
Monthly average *
349
369
385
356
375
388
400
428
Reg No. 04655675
September
October
November
December
396
468
449
554
384
414
426
480
*Figures cover the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 inclusive.
About RSSB
RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board) was established in 2003 after the publication of the
Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation report by Lord Cullen. We are an expert, not for
profit organisation which supports the rail industry to improve safety and performance. We
bring organisations together to help deliver clear benefits to passengers and businesses while
providing value to the taxpayer. Our members include infrastructure companies, train and
freight operators, rolling stock owners and suppliers to the industry.
Website: www.rssb.co.uk
Twitter: @RSSB_rail
LinkedIn: RSSB
About Network Rail
Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain’s railway – the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000
bridges and viaducts, and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of
which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.6bn
journeys by rail every year - double the number of 1996 - and move hundreds of millions of
tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We’re investing £38bn in the railway by 2019
to deliver more frequent, more reliable, safer services and brighter and better stations.
Website: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
Twitter: @networkrailPR
T: +44 (0)20 3142 5300
F: +44 (0)20 3142 5663
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
The Helicon, 1 South Place
Registered office:
The Helicon, 1 South Place
www.rssb.co.uk
London EC2M 2RB
London EC2M 2RB
Reg No. 04655675