Case study: doing a final safety check
27 October 2026
Revised train dispatch plan follows review after concerns raised.
A reporter raised concerns that empty coaching stock (ECS) could leave Littlehampton station without a final safety check by platform staff. They feared this could increase the risk of a platform train interface incident (PTI), particularly if a passenger was close to the train. The reporter noted that this lack of a final safety check is inconsistent with industry PTI recommendations for managing PTI risk.
The existing dispatch plan at Littlehampton station did not require staff to dispatch ECS when the driver was simply changing ends and the train both entered and exited as ECS. Instead, the risks were managed through station announcements and the train’s interlocking system. The procedure had been in place for several years, with no related incidents identified since 2021. However, the reporter questioned whether these measures provided enough protection.
The company reviewed the station’s risk assessments and resourcing arrangements. Dispatch rosters have now been updated to provide enough staff to cover ECS movements around the clock. A revised train dispatch plan has also been introduced, providing ‘at-cab’ dispatch, and assisting dispatchers where needed.