Railway accident investigators have called for all Luas trams in Dublin to be fitted with improved anti-drag technology after four incidents in which passengers or their belongings became trapped in closing doors and were dragged along station platforms.
The Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) issued a safety advice notice following the incidents, which occurred between April and June. Investigators warned that passengers could suffer serious injuries or even be killed if they are caught by a tram door and dragged as the vehicle moves away from a stop.
One of the most serious incidents happened at Stillorgan on the Green Line on May 15. A teenage girl became trapped by her coat as she attempted to board a tram. She was pulled alongside the moving tram before freeing herself and falling onto the platform.
The girl suffered a deep cut to her face as well as grazes to her knees and hands. Other passengers called emergency services, and she was taken to hospital by ambulance. The driver was not aware of the incident at the time.
At Heuston on April 21, a man’s fingertip became trapped between closing doors as he attempted to board. He ran alongside the tram until the driver noticed the situation and stopped. He was not injured.
A third incident occurred at the Hospital stop in Tallaght on June 17. A dog boarded a Red Line tram while its owner remained on the platform. The woman had the dog’s lead wrapped around her wrist and was dragged alongside the tram before managing to free herself.
She suffered minor cuts but did not require medical treatment. The dog was unharmed.
At Busáras on May 29, two passengers were caught after a bag became trapped in the doors as they rushed towards a departing tram. The driver stopped after passengers inside alerted staff.
The RAIU examined the door-closing process, obstacle detection equipment, driver information and passenger understanding of Luas door systems. Investigators found that existing technology detects an obstruction when there is a gap of about 10mm between the doors. In all four cases, however, the trapped objects were smaller than that threshold.
The investigators said enhanced obstacle detection and dedicated drag detection systems could probably have prevented the incidents.
The RAIU also criticised existing warning stickers on tram doors, saying they had not proved sufficiently effective. Research conducted last year found widespread misunderstanding among passengers about how tram doors operate.
Investigators also raised concerns about the image quality of cameras on some older trams. Better high-definition CCTV could help drivers identify trapped objects before departure.
The RAIU issued four safety recommendations, including advanced sensors, improved CCTV and clearer warning markings known as “shark’s teeth”. It also called for a public safety campaign explaining how Luas doors work.
Drivers should receive stronger reminders to check platform cameras and mirrors before leaving stops, the investigators said.
The recommendations come as Keolis Amey Light Rail Dublin Limited is due to take over operation of Luas services from September 1.
