Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) investigation report into the fatality at Eden Park train station on the 26 February 2020 of a blind man who suffered fatal injuries after falling from the edge of a platform without tactile paving said:

“In 2021 it is staggering that one third of platforms around the country lack tactile paving, a basic safety measure, simply because it is only installed when there are major station renovations.

“Tactile paving on train platforms is not an optional extra, but instead a vital safety measure.

“Network Rail needs to reach 100 per cent provision of tactile paving far sooner than 2029. We cannot afford to wait seven years for such a basic safety feature to exist at every train station.

“A clear timetable for safety improvements must be brought forward, starting with immediate action at island platforms, stations which only have partial tactile paving on their platforms and unstaffed stations.”

“Today’s report is absolutely right in highlighting that it does not make sense to continue waiting until platforms are refurbished to finally install tactile paving. Safety improvements should not be held up any longer.”