An 82-year-old woman was left housebound for weeks after she fell trying to board an Elizabeth line train in west London.
Eleanor Cowie had never had a fall before she slipped and smashed her right shin while trying to get on a train at Ealing Broadway station in late April.
The retired BBC audience researcher told the Standard passengers are having to “clamber onto the train” due to a dangerous gap between the train and the platform.
Ms Cowie said she nearly fainted in the hours after her fall, adding that the slip has had “a serious impact on my life”.
She had been in a rush to get the Elizabeth line to a choir rehearsal at Tottenham Court Road at around 6.30pm when her foot slipped and her shin struck the train.
She said: “My ankle was swollen and my leg was black and blue… Every time I think it’s getting better it doesn’t. I’m out and about doing things but it is still not really right.
“It could happen to anybody - if you are rushing. It’s not just that there is a gap horizontally, it is the fact that there is a vertical gap as well. You have to clamber onto the train.”
The injury quickly became infected and the Ealing resident explained that she was unable to do her normal activities for five weeks.
“The wound has still not quite healed, almost three months after the accident,” she added. “I’m still going to see my nurse to have it dressed once a week.”
Earlier this week the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan apologised to passengers who had been seriously injured because of the issue at the station.
One passenger broke his foot when he stepped off the train at the Elizabeth line platform while an 82-year-old man also gashed his knee trying to get on a service there.
The Standard revealed on Wednesday that a four-year-old girl had repeatedly fallen and injured herself while trying to get off the Elizabeth line at Ealing Broadway.
Transport for London (TfL) has said it is in urgent talks with Network Rail to see what can be done to reduce the gap between the train and the platform at Ealing Broadway station.
The height difference at the station complies with required safety standards but TfL added it would do everything it can to ensure customers are not injured while going about their daily business.
Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said: “We are very sorry that a small number of people have been injured at Ealing Broadway station and them a full and speedy recovery.
“Safety is our number one priority and we are in urgent talks with Network Rail, who owns the station, to explore what can be done to reduce the gap between the train and platform.
“We have also worked with our operator, MTR-Elizabeth line, to develop a range of enhancements at the station to increase customer safety until this can be done. This includes the installation of a new barrier to enhance the management of passenger flow, and the extension of a handrail.”
A Network Rail spokesperson added: “We are very sorry to hear about the recent injuries suffered by a small number of passengers at Ealing Broadway.
“Safety is our number one priority and we previously met with the station user group to listen to their concerns.
“We are not currently funded to do improvements to the platforms; however we are working closely with our partners at TfL and MTR Elizabeth line to review what might be done as part of our joint safety improvement plan.”
Have you suffered a serious injury on the London Underground? Email jacob.phillips@standard.co.uk.
