A giant leap for safety of families getting the train to Royal Easter Show

Rubber gap fillers bridge the space between the train doors and platforms.

Last year, 15 people fell through the gap at Olympic Park Station – 13 of those during the Easter Show period when close to 400,000 people travelled there by train.

More than half of all falls into the gap across the rail network happen at the busiest stations, and often as families with kids are on the way to or from an event.

That’s why the rollout of gap fillers has followed the numbers of slips, trips and falls, with installation at Circular Quay and platforms at Town Hall, Martin Place, Wynyard, Bondi Junction, Redfern, Chatswood, Wolli Creek and Central.

Since they were installed at 26 priority platforms not a single person has fallen through the gap.

Stations to receive the safety upgrade shortly include Epping, Lidcombe, Strathfield, Blacktown, Hurstville and Sydenham.

Minister for Transport John Graham

“Childhood memories of the Royal Easter Show should be all about show bags, rides and the best animals in show – not a frightening fall at the train station on the way.

“We saw the numbers of Easter Show-related falls at Olympic Park last year and we have fast-tracked the installation of gap fillers so a trip to show is as stress-free as possible for the hundreds of thousands of parents getting their families there by train."

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said:

“There has not been a single fall through the gap recorded on any platform where this solution has been rolled out since the program began four years ago.

“There are always big crowds visiting the Easter Show every year, and many of those will arrive by train, so this safety measure will offer parents some added peace of mind.”