Safety issue - doors opening where they're not supposed

[James Shields]

I'm on the 8:32 Drogheda-Pearse, coach 29204.

The train stopped close to Mosney, and there was the beeping sound from the doors that you normally get in a station. At this point a schoolgirl on the coach pressed one of the door open buttons, and the door opened. Not only that, it was the set of doors facing on to the northbound tracks.

This seems unacceptable on an in service passenger train. The girl was obviously just seeing if the doors would open, but if it was dark, or a visually impaired passenger were in the situation, it would be quite reasonable to assume they were in a station and step out - possibly into the path of an oncoming train.

There was no announcement from the driver either.

[Mark Gleeson]

Call or email the RSC this is unacceptable and not the first time

[Mark Gleeson]

Not the first time http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=3792&highlight=safety+door

[Thomas Ralph]

Contact details are at http://www.rsc.ie/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pID=172

[Mark Gleeson]

As this stage I'm aware of at least 4 incidents

2 * 29k
1 * DART 85xx
1 * MK4

The Mk4 incident was as a result of a member of staff unlocking the manual lock on a defective door, the door then opened while the train was traveling at 90mph.

The other 3 train was stationary

[Mark Gleeson]

Contact details are at http://www.rsc.ie/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pID=172
If the RSC don't want to play ball, I'll call the chief inspector at the RAIU. I've seen full investigations for this sort of thing in the UK

This would be classified as a serious incident where under slightly different circumstances loss of life of injury was likely, as in a 19-2 under the EU regulations

[ColmmacO]

I've come accross that before aswell on a 29k between drumcondra and connolly stations inbound.
It was the 08.38 ex coolmine as far as I remember. Definitely not the same as the inciudent on the maynooth bray train in february. (i've never been on that one)
Door opening sound and light came on on the right hand side of train (ie..the side facing the other track, and then went off after about 2-3 seconds.
So thats 3 for the 29k list.

[karlr42]

Is it more likely that this is a technical problem, or an error by the driver(muscle memory when bringing the train in the stop and instinctively hitting the door button)?

[ColmmacO]

Is it more likely that this is a technical problem, or an error by the driver(muscle memory when bringing the train in the stop and instinctively hitting the door button)?

Could it be something like the door release button (or whatever it is) being somewhere that is easy to hit off by accident?

[Colm Moore]

Whats the story with the doors to the driver cabs been un-secured. Platform staff had to close the rear cab door on 29110 on the 1630 Connoll-Wexford at Pearse.

[karlr42]

That's another thing, I've never seen the cab doors, either external or internal, locked. Seems like rather a security risk to me.

[Mark Gleeson]

The RSC reported only a single door incident

incidents are low. There was just one such incident in 2009 and this occurred when a broken spring on a door had necessitated that the door be locked off prior to the trains departure from Heuston. Whilst en route, the train host noted the locked off door and, not being aware of the reason, unlocked it whilst approaching Thurles. The door opened and the train host, on seeing this, reclosed the door.

Doesn't quite capture the screams and panic which occurred when the door flew open

[Thomas Ralph]

Could it be something like the door release button (or whatever it is) being somewhere that is easy to hit off by accident?

Not altogether likely; driver has to press two buttons for about a second.

[Mark Gleeson]

Not altogether likely; driver has to press two buttons for about a second.

And the train has to be below 5kph

The door release for the left side doors are surprise surprise on the left, the right on the right generally requiring a swap to the right side seat to operate

[ColmmacO]

And the train has to be below 5kph

The door release for the left side doors are surprise surprise on the left, the right on the right generally requiring a swap to the right side seat to operate


Two people in the cab? One accidently presses door release on wrong side of train?
The time I noticed it the train was in the black hole between drumcondra and connolly so could well have been below 5 kmph.

[JohnM]

The 6.15 Longford-Pearse was stopped (as usual) on the bridge across the North Strand Road this morning when the doors started beeping. One of the doors on the carriage I was on was then opened before the doors closing beeps went off and it shut again.

[Mark Gleeson]

Tel: 01-2068110
E-Mail: info@rsc.ie

This is happening far too often

[Trampas]

I notice that the darts 8600? doors can open before the train exactly stops if you press the button.

Only talking a second or so

[Mark Gleeson]

I notice that the darts 8600? doors can open before the train exactly stops if you press the button.

Only talking a second or so

Thats completely ok with EU rules, once the train is below 5kph you will hear a click above the door as the secondary lock switches. In a mass transit situation it does save seconds.