I’ve commented before about the danger posed by the huge gap between the train and platform edge at Walkden railway station. At best, it’s a huge inconvenience for anyone with even the slightest of mobility problems. At worst, it is a serious accident waiting to happen.
Northern Rail have now recognised this and taken decisive action by… erm, putting up a poster on the stairs up to the station.
This doesn’t actually solve the problem at all, and I hope it does not take a serious injury to spur Network Rail and Northern Rail into action on this issue. I suspect the real issue here is that no-one wants to spend the money - and posters are much cheaper than engineering works!
Friends of Walkden Station have written to Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation about the safety and access problems posed by the large gap. Both organisation admit the gap is too great for current standards … but both claim they have no obligation to act as they contend it’s a historical situation they’ve inherited. FOWS take issue with this and will continue to press for the necessary remedial action to be taken before someone is killed or seriously injured.
On the other hand, should there BE an accident (God forbid), since Network Rail have clearly identified a potential serious risk and yet not done anything about it, the Health & Safety Executive will really ‘go to town’ on them.