Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) is urging holidaymakers travelling to Gatwick and Luton airports this summer by train to travel safely.
GTR, which operates Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services to the two airports, is reminding passengers to be careful while travelling and to allow extra time for their journeys, as there will be large numbers of passengers. Gatwick and Luton airports experience their busiest footfall during August each year.
To meet the extra demand, Gatwick Express is trialling running additional early-morning and overnight services.
To emphasise the importance of boarding trains safely, GTR has released CCTV footage that shows a passenger running towards an open train door, then slipping between the train and the platform edge as the door closed. Nearby staff prevented this from becoming a more serious incident.
The operator has revealed that so far this year, there have been 93 reports of people falling as they attempt to board a train, which repreents and alarming increase of 43% compared to 2025.
The new advice comes as part of GTR’s campaign to encourage safe conduct while travelling by train. The campaign, which is fronted by comedian and actress Diane Morgan, highlights simple steps that passengers can take to avoid being injured.
The operator warns that trying to board a train while the doors are in the process of closing is one of the most common causes of accidents at train stations, along with running for trains and taking pushchairs and luggage on escalators. GTR emphasises that these are preventable behaviours and is urging its passengers to avoid them.
GTR has also revealed that overall figures for slips, trips and falls on its services are down 5% year-on-year.
“It’s fantastic that the reach of our network enables people to travel to both Gatwick and Luton airports by rail. Travelling by train alleviates the stress of traffic and means your holiday can get started even earlier, but not if you end up injuring yourself on the journey.
“With lots of people travelling this summer who may not be familiar with our trains or our stations, we are taking the opportunity to share essential travel advice so that people take extra care. It’s positive to see an overall reduction in accidents across our network, but we really want to see a reduction in those attempting to jump on a train as the doors are closing as it results in completely avoidable injury. If your summer trip involves the train, please plan your journey and leave extra time for travelling so you don’t feel the need to rush.”
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for GTR
Responses
It’s a pity the “Customer Services Director for GTR” hasn’t woken up to the fact that fare evasion is rife on Thameslink services from / to Bedford Abuse of 1st class …where have all your on train RPI staff gone ?
Pushing through gate lines (west Hampstead)
Are just two examples of where GTR need to get out and start checking tickets on trains and dishing out the Penalty Fares ….
Seems like a sensible step (no pun intended, honest!).
Like the Public Information films of my childhood.
You cannot assume that people apply common sense, or understand how life works.
So kudos to GTR and let us hope that the target audience sees the adverts.
Links to the URL on tickets or websites???