Holidaymakers have been urged to take extra care while catching trains to the airport this summer following a spike in the number of people falling between the train and the platform edge.
Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) has recorded 93 cases of people falling while trying to board a train so far this year, up 43 per cent from 2025.
The operator, which runs services to and from Gatwick and Luton airports, said most accidents are caused by completely preventable behaviour in a fresh appeal for the busy summer holiday season.
Among the most common causes of accidents at stations are trying to board a train while the doors are closing, running for trains, and taking pushchairs and luggage on escalators, it said.
open image in galleryThe operator also reported an overall five per cent drop in “slips, trips and falls” following a public information campaign on safe travel earlier in the year.
Jenny Saunders, customer services director for GTR, said: “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,” she said.
GTR shared video footage of a passenger falling between a train and the platform edge at Hitchin station “as a warning to take extra care when travelling” ahead of the busiest periods this month.
open image in galleryGatwick Airport is expecting its busiest days to be 2, 9 and 16 August this year, while Luton expects the most footfall on 9 and 16 August.
Greater Thameslink Railway operates Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services to both airports.
Around 500 London Tube passengers were injured in 2024 after becoming trapped in closing doors or falling between the train and the platform edge.
Data published earlier this year showed that more than 10,000 injuries have been recorded on the London Underground alone over the past three years.
The station with the largest number of injury reports was found to be Waterloo, which recorded 471 incidents between 2022 and 2025. Waterloo was also ranked the busiest Tube station last year.
The data, which was obtained by Personal Injury Solicitors London via Freedom of Information requests, showed 3,275 injuries were reported across the Tube network during 2022-2023, with 3,631 logged in 2023-2024 and 3,567 in 2024-2025 – a total of 10,473 injuries over three years.
According to the findings, Transport for London (TfL) paid out £3,209,421 during 2024-2025 – more than twice the amount paid out during the previous two years combined – for 325 injury claims logged last year.
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