A transport union has hit out at railway station job cuts after it was revealed the majority of rail passengers will try to get on and off trains even when the doors are about to close.

New figures show that seven out of 10 travellers (70%) would still attempt to board a train despite the door alarm sounding and more than half (57%) would try to enter a carriage just before the doors start to close.

The research was published by safety body the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), following several injuries suffered by passengers getting trapped in doors and being dragged along by trains in recent years.

A 60-year-old woman suffered head, back and hand injuries in an incident at Hayes and Harlington station, back in July 2015.

She was dragged for 19 metres along the platform when her hand became trapped in a door.

There were a total of 1,515 incidents on platform edges at railway stations in 2015/16.

Similar incidents have occurred in West Wickham, south London, in April 2015, at Newcastle Central in June 2013 and on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Jarrow in April 2012.

The rail industry is examining how to increase awareness of the issue.

Woman dragged along Hayes and Harlington platform

The RSSB's Paul Leach said: "Train travel is really safe, but it's vital that passengers aren't tempted to make a dash for the doors, no matter how rushed they are.

"The best way to avoid the risk of a nasty accident is to keep back from the edge and not try to get on or off once the door alarm starts to sound.

"Despite their appearance, train doors are not like lift doors and won't necessarily re-open if something is trapped in them."

70% of travellers still dash for train doors despite the door alarm sounding

Rail union RMT raised concerns about the safety implications of not having guards on trains which are departing from platforms.

General secretary Mick Cash said: "This research reinforces the growing dangers to passengers at the platform/train interface on Britain's overcrowded railways and underlines why RMT is fighting attempts to remove guards and station staff in the drive for increased profits.

"Trap and drag incidents are‎ a clear and present danger as this study highlights and the safety body should stop propping up the train companies and the government and start supporting front line rail staff."

Sixty-nine passengers were interviewed by the RSSB at mainline stations across Britain for the study.

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