A London Overground driver was “distracted” by their mobile phone when they pulled out of a station with a disabled passenger’s ramp still attached, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found.
No injuries were reported following the incident, but a passenger and a member of staff had to move out of the way as the ramp travelled down the platform at Norwood Junction on July 1 last year.
The ramp struck an end-of-platform barrier before falling beside the track.
While no one was hurt, investigators said there was a high risk it could have injured someone or collided with platform furniture.
The driver initially stated their mobile phone had been switched off and placed in their bag.
However, phone records obtained by RAIB showed the device had been switched on for the duration of their shift, and that five calls had been made or received while they were driving various trains.
The last call received covered the journey of train 9D18 from West Croydon, including the stop at Norwood Junction when the incident occurred, the RAIB report said.
RAIB investigators noted that mobile phone use can reduce situational awareness, slow reaction times and reduce hazard perception.
Investigators said “the use of their mobile phone is likely to have distracted the driver from the task of driving the train during the dispatch from Norwood Junction station.”
The portable ramp had been deployed to assist a disabled passenger using a mobility scooter boarding the 9.46am West Croydon to Highbury and Islington service.
However, before the passenger could board, the doors closed and the train departed with the ramp still attached, as the driver believed it was safe to leave the station.
The report also found the wrong type of ramp had been in use, meaning the doors could still close and traction power could still be applied.
The correct ramp had not been available at the station since September 2021, but checks had failed to spot the problem.
RAIB has now made six safety recommendations, including better management of portable access ramps and action over the risks of train drivers using mobile phones.
