Sydney Trains is undertaking a trial of Delkor Rail’s Platform Gap Filler at Circular Quay station in Sydney’s CBD. The Platform Gap Filler was installed on Platform 1 at Circular Quay in December 2020, with Platform 2 completed in mid-February 2021. Since the trial began, there have been no reported incidents due to the platform gap.
Sydney Trains reports that on average, five people fall through the gap every week across the Sydney train network. The majority of these are children and elderly commuters, and 13 per cent of these falls had occurred at Circular Quay station, one of the network’s busiest stations.
Acting Chief Executive of Sydney Trains Suzanne Holden said local engineers studied other networks in Australia and overseas to adapt the rubber gap filler technology for Sydney.
"While there's a long way to go, we are confident this technology may be a solution to improving safety and accessibility on some of our problem platforms," she said.
Collaborative approach with Sydney Trains
George Stamboulis, Marketing Director at Delkor Rail, says Delkor and Sydney Trains took a very collaborative approach to address the issue. “We took our existing product and modified the design to suit the particular requirements. We also worked with Sydney Trains on the installation methodology that was largely completed by the Sydney Trains team.”
Platform Gap Filler from Delkor Rail is a sturdy, hard-wearing rubber element that is mounted along the edge of a train platform to reduce the gap between the platform and the entrance of a passenger train; ensuring that when a train stops at a platform, passengers can enter and exit with safety.
The Sydney Trains team undertook the painstaking process of installing the Platform Gap Filler along the entire length of the Circular Quay platforms, which involved drilling more than 1,000 holes into the side of the platform.
Designed to move aside and hold weight
The design of the Platform Gap Filler is the secret to its success. The fingers are designed to move aside with heavy horizontal loads such as a train brushing against them. But vertically they are quite strong, and a person can stand on it and be fully supported.
They are also ideal for passengers that require wheelchairs and scooters (manual and motorised) for mobility. The gap filler is so sturdy that it can support mobility-impaired passengers.
When developing the product Delkor took into account potential safety risks, indoor and outdoor use, fire resistance, and UV exposure. The material chosen to create the rubber filler is non-toxic, fire resistant and UV stabilised making it safe for passengers and staff, and durable in all conditions.
Platform Gap Filler tailored to requirements
The Delkor Rail Platform Gap Filler is available in a range of sizes, colours, mounting applications, and material specifications, so it can be designed to suit most platform and operating conditions.
Delkor Rail has worked with many large railway operators to design and supply Platform Gap Fillers on station platforms across Europe, South East Asia and North America.
Delkor Rail has designed and manufactured platform gap fillers in both Melbourne and Brisbane on train networks.
For more information on platform gap filler download our brochure, send us an enquiry or call us on 02 9709 2918.