Historic rail cars are being taken out of service because Gen Z passengers cannot use the doors

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

The 1930s carriages used on the Severn Valley Railway have caused incidents as they lack buttons to open or lock them – with the doors found to be open while the train was moving.

Passengers instead had to lean out of the windows and turn the door handles or wait for platform personnel to disembark.

And now about 20 of the seating areas have had to be saved since the beginning of the year.

Richard Morris, the Severn Valley Railway’s health and safety manager, said: ‘There have been some instances where the doors of Great Western carriages have been found to be open on arrival at stations or in the center section (while the train is running).

A railway carriage of the same type as the Severn Valley Railway carriages being withdrawn from service

“Lack of awareness among a younger audience of visitors and ever-increasing pressure from the railway regulator means the railway needs to be proactive.”

The Great Western train may need to take on additional staff in the future and improve the checking process before trains depart.

In the longer term, the trains’ locks could be modified so that they lock when they slam shut, but the railway said: ‘The cost of making modifications could be significant as more than 140 doors are involved.’

The railway’s press office added: “The railway is exploring a number of options, including additional staff on board trains and improving pre-departure checking procedures for carriages.”

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

In the incident, a passenger tumbled from a carriage that had come to rest on the ramp of the platform, resulting in a fall of approximately five feet, seriously injuring the passenger.

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

Some 20 Great Western carriages, dating back to the 1930s, have been in storage since January

The number of accidents involving staff and passengers on heritage railways is vastly disproportionate to the number of trains operated and kilometers traveled compared to the national network.

Following the incident, the Rail Accident Investigation Board issued urgent guidance to all heritage railways warning them that those who control the lines must understand the risk factors involved and be proactive in the measures required to protect staff, volunteers and members of the public. to keep 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.

‘That’s not to say the other carriages, ie slam locks, aren’t flawless. They have a lower incident rate due to the overall design of the lock mechanisms with built-in safety catches.”

He continued: “Part of the conversation (regarding the reintroduction of the carriages) has been the training of security guards, traveling ticket inspectors, platform staff and catering stewards – how we train them, how we assess them and their responsibility.”

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

‘First, the Great Western set was never used during midweek operations due to the lower number of platform personnel available.

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

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

Volunteers at a heritage railway line in the north of England told the Daily Mail about operations staff who were drunk on duty and drivers who regularly ran red signals – they describe the railway as ‘an asylum’.

Another leading line has been threatened with prosecution by the Office of Road and Rail after an officer made an unannounced visit.

They found that the recommendations they made after a member of staff fell from a locomotive were ignored.

The situation in Severn Valley comes at a time when the railways are battling costs – with passenger numbers reduced by around 25% and, according to a senior manager, ‘an awful lot of fresh air’.

Last week, the railway launched a £1.5 million ‘survival appeal’, claiming the railway’s future is at risk if the money is not raised.

The railway must also cut its £2.5 million annual wage bill – a figure that has raised eyebrows among supporters, who have questioned why it was so high in the first place.