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Historic train cars are being decommissioned… because Gen Z passengers don’t know how to open the doors

Train carriages that have been in service for almost a century are being taken out of service – because young people don’t know how to open or close the doors.

Severn Valley railcars in the 1930s caused incidents because they did not have buttons to open or latch – with doors found to have been left open while in motion.

Instead, passengers had to lean at the windows and turn the door handles or wait for platform staff to disembark.

And now around 20 seats had to be saved since the beginning of the year.

Severn Valley Railway Health and Safety Manager Richard Morris said: “There have been a few instances where the doors of Great Western carriages have been found to be open on arrival at stations or in the middle section (while the train is running).

Carriages in service for almost a century had to be withdrawn from the Severn Valley Railway after Generation Z caused a series of incidents because they did not know how to open or close the doors without a push button.

A railway carriage of the same type as the Severn Valley Railway carriages being decommissioned

A railway carriage of the same type as the Severn Valley Railway carriages being decommissioned

“Lack of awareness among a younger audience and increasing pressure from railway regulators requires the railway to take action.”

The Great Western Train may need to employ additional staff in the future and improve the process of checking before trains depart.

In the longer term, trains’ locks could be adapted to lock, but the railway said: “The cost of making changes could be significant, with more than 140 doors affected.”

The railway’s press office added: “The railway is evaluating a number of options, including additional staff on board trains and improved inspection procedures for carriages before departure.”

The withdrawal of the carriage is believed to have taken place following a serious accident involving historic trains at Loughborough Central station on the Great Central Railway in January.

In the incident, a passenger fell from a train car that had come to rest on the platform exit, causing a fall of about five feet and seriously injuring the passenger.

Two Great Western Railway carriages date from around the same time as the decommissioned Severn Valley Railway carriages.  This image is for illustrative purposes only to show the doors.

Two Great Western Railway carriages date from around the same time as the decommissioned Severn Valley Railway carriages. This image is for illustrative purposes only to show the doors.

About 20 Great Western cars from the 1930s have been in storage since January

About 20 Great Western cars from the 1930s have been in storage since January

Compared to the nationwide network, the number of accidents involving staff and passengers on museum railways bears no relation to the number of trains operated and the number of kilometers travelled.

Following the incident, the Rail Accident Investigation Board issued urgent guidance to all historic railways, warning that those who control the routes must understand the risk factors involved and proactively take the necessary steps to keep employees, volunteers and members of the public safe .

An employee involved in the maintenance of carriages at the Severn Valley Railway said: “The Great Western set has more problems compared to the other carriages.

“This is not to say that the other carriages, i.e. the surcharge locks, are not spotless. They have a lower accident rate due to the overall design of the locking mechanisms with built-in safety latches.”

He continued: “Part of the conversation (regarding the reinstatement of the carriages) was the training of security staff, ticket inspectors, platform staff and catering officers – how we train them, how we assess them and their responsibilities.”

A railway volunteer added: “The number of Great Western set incidents has increased over the last two years for a number of reasons.

“Firstly, the Great Western set was never used during weekday operations due to the reduced number of available platform staff.

“Secondly, the Great Western set was heavily used during the Covid midweek as it was the set with the most compartments. Coupled with a weaker understanding of how traditional doors and locks work, it’s all a sticky mess.”

The Great Central Railway has suffered a series of high-profile accidents in recent years, including a steam train that derailed after passing a red signal and a diesel that traveled many miles without its driver before crashing into carriages .

Volunteers on a historic railway line in northern England told the Daily Mail of staff getting drunk on duty and drivers regularly running red signals – describing the railway as a “sanctuary”.

Another leading line was threatened with prosecution by the Road and Rail Transport Agency after an officer paid an unannounced visit.

They found that recommendations they made after an employee fell off a locomotive were ignored.

The situation in the Severn Valley comes at a time when the railways are struggling with costs – with ridership cut by around 25% and, according to a senior manager, “a lot of fresh air”.

Last week the railway launched a £1.5m “appeal for survival”, claiming the future of the railway is at risk if the money is not raised.

The railway also has to cut its annual payroll of £2.5m – a figure which raised eyebrows from supporters, who wondered why it was so high in the first place.

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