“Please mind the gap”

Fishorsealant

Why is the gap at Kent station so big?

Last week I had to jump to avoid falling into the abyss...

Del.Monte

Fishorsealant wrote: »

Why is the gap at Kent station so big?

Last week I had to jump to avoid falling into the abyss...

It's due to the curvature of the platform which is due to the need to link the line from Dublin to the lines from Cobh and Youghal which orginally were run by two separate companies. The original Cork & Youghal station was high above the Glanmire Road (Kent) station.

Ce he sin

Fishorsealant wrote: »

Why is the gap at Kent station so big?

Last week I had to jump to avoid falling into the abyss...

Short answer is that for historical reasons the platform is curved but the coaches are not!

Isambard

Del.Monte wrote: »

It's due to the curvature of the platform which is due to the need to link the line from Dublin to the lines from Cobh and Youghal which orginally were run by two separate companies. The original Cork & Youghal station was high above the Glanmire Road (Kent) station.

and the original Station for the Dublin line was straight out from the tunnel.

ongarboy

Fishorsealant wrote: »

Why is the gap at Kent station so big?

Last week I had to jump to avoid falling into the abyss...

I'd imagine elderly or mobility impaired people find it quite difficult to alight safely in such situations.

Del.Monte

ongarboy wrote: »

I'd imagine elderly or mobility impaired people find it quite difficult to alight safely in such situations.

How do you think they have been managing it for decades?

CoBo55

Del.Monte wrote: »

How do you think have been managing it for decades?

By using the bus:p

Markcheese

Del.Monte wrote: »

How do you think they have been managing it for decades?

Unfortunately it's fairly regular for old dears to end up down "the gap " .
I know an older lady who fell down between train and platform while getting off the dublin train Xmas Eve 2018,
Dunno why they can't have a few ramps for the worst of the curve ,and designate those for those with mobility problems ,it's not like there's a major shortage of staff in Kent station ..

Del.Monte

Markcheese wrote: »

Unfortunately it's fairly regular for old dears to end up down "the gap " .
I know an older lady who fell down between train and platform while getting off the dublin train Xmas Eve 2018,
Dunno why they can't have a few ramps for the worst of the curve ,and designate those for those with mobility problems ,it's not like there's a major shortage of staff in Kent station ..

If it's such a 'regular' problem perhaps the staff should be positioned to help people off and on the trains.

Jamie2k9

Markcheese wrote: »

Unfortunately it's fairly regular for old dears to end up down "the gap " .
I know an older lady who fell down between train and platform while getting off the dublin train Xmas Eve 2018,
Dunno why they can't have a few ramps for the worst of the curve ,and designate those for those with mobility problems ,it's not like there's a major shortage of staff in Kent station ..

If it was "regular" I think we would hear more about it....

The host walks through the train (about the only work they do) after arrival and most advise people who need assistance to stay on-board.

punisher5112

Unexpected item or person in the gapping area....

Markcheese

Well , I can't say how regular it is ,but it's happened a few times , ,the lady I know, ended up on the gravel ,shattered her hip ,and was very scraped ,cut and bruised,
I doubt it's gonna end up cheap for Irish rail ,

punisher5112

Markcheese wrote: »

Well , I can't say how regular it is ,but it's happened a few times , ,the lady I know, ended up on the gravel ,shattered her hip ,and was very scraped ,cut and bruised,
I doubt it's gonna end up cheap for Irish rail ,

Sure the wind off the train coming in will offend someone and they'll get a payout...
The whole thing has gone mad..,

It's actually funny when I think back, buses had big steps but grab rails, never had a person fall then we got low floor and level with kerb and I've had so many trip, fall and roll....

The only option would be to have the tracks and platform exactly straight.. probably have to walk 500metre to get to platform.

Markcheese

punisher5112 wrote: »

Sure the wind off the train coming in will offend someone and they'll get a payout...
The whole thing has gone mad..,

It's actually funny when I think back, buses had big steps but grab rails, never had a person fall then we got low floor and level with kerb and I've had so many trip, fall and roll....

The only option would be to have the tracks and platform exactly straight.. probably have to walk 500metre to get to platform.

I assume the biggest gaps are at the same predictable points on the curve ?
It's not beyond the Witt of man to have a small ramp (with a handrail ?, ) that can just get pushed to line up with the train door .. ( I know some tit will trip on the ramp and claim )
Or just advise those old dears with mobility to get on at carriage x and y ( the ones with smallest gap )

looksee

Can we have a bit less of the 'old dears' please. You don't have to be in a wheelchair or on crutches to have mobility issues, many of ye will be 'old dears' in time.

punisher5112

looksee wrote: »

Can we have a bit less of the 'old dears' please. You don't have to be in a wheelchair or on crutches to have mobility issues, many of ye will be 'old dears' in time.

That's very true, I injured my back in work and with my leg also locking up I probably wouldn't even be able to get off let alone get on with such a gap.

Now I'd be ok though.

Markcheese

looksee wrote: »

Can we have a bit less of the 'old dears' please. You don't have to be in a wheelchair or on crutches to have mobility issues, many of ye will be 'old dears' in time.

Well my girlfriend already reckons I am ..

And my knees agree with her ....

Victor

Del.Monte wrote: »

How do you think they have been managing it for decades?

Precariously.

Markcheese wrote: »

I assume the biggest gaps are at the same predictable points on the curve ?

The curve is a fairly regular curve, the issue is with the carriages. Carriages that have doors at the end suit concave curves, but not convex curves.

Hmm, they should have all intercity services operating from platform 5. Alternatively, they should widen platform 3 (rather the old platform 4, the mail boat platform) to line up with platform 4 and have the train stop (at least partially) on a straight section of track.

Isambard

it's a pity with the redevlopment of IE land going on, that they didn't put back the original straight platforms underneath the new buildings, and run the suburban services into the bays, abandoning the curved platforms altogether.

Board Walker

ongarboy wrote: »

I'd imagine elderly or mobility impaired people find it quite difficult to alight safely in such situations.

They have been managing just fine for a very long time

Markcheese

Board Walker wrote: »

They have been managing just fine for a very long time

Mostly ... Except when they haven't ...