Man run over by 4 completely different trains at tube station in horror Boxing Day incident

A coroner has issued a stark warning to Sadiq Khan regarding automated Underground lines, following the tragic death of a pensioner who was hit by four separate trains at a Tube station.

Brian Mitchell, 72, was tragically killed in an “avoidable” incident when he was struck by a train, as the operator failed to spot him on the tracks. The Edinburgh resident was not only hit by the train but also reversed over, as he remained unnoticed on the tracks.

In a horrifying turn of events, three more trains ran over him due to other operators also failing to see him. East London coroner Graeme Irvine has sent a cautionary message to London Mayor Khan, emphasising that operators controlling automated Tube trains need to pay “close attention” and override the system if they notice anything on the tracks.

An inquest heard how Mr Mitchell disembarked a Jubilee train at Stratford station and took a seat on a bench on platform 13 on Boxing Day 2023.

About an hour later, CCTV footage showed him standing up and “lurching” towards the edge of the platform, where he fell onto the train tracks.

Mr Mitchell was left stranded on the tracks for five and a half minutes before an incoming train failed to stop and collided with him. The operator of the arriving train did not spot Mr Mitchell on the tracks, leading to the automatic train striking him.

Even after the collision, Mr Mitchell went unnoticed, and the train reversed back out of the station over him. Three additional trains entered and exited the station, driving over Mr Mitchell, despite a staff member attempting to halt the last train.

As the train entered the platform, Mr Mitchell was tragically declared dead by paramedics at Stratford Underground Station, having suffered severe injuries on Boxing Day in 2023.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, Coroner Mr Irvine has issued a warning that operators of automatic trains need to pay “close attention” and override the system if they spot something on the tracks.

He explained: “Jubilee Line trains use Automatic Train Operation (ATO). This means that Train Operators (TOs) do not drive the train. Acceleration and braking are automated.

“The expectation of TOs is that they pay close attention to the train and the tracks before them and override the ATO system and apply brakes if they observe an object on the tracks.

“In this case, at least three separate TOs failed to notice a man before them on the tracks or to override the automatic system. The court heard that the initial collision with Brian was likely to have been avoidable. The track layout would have allowed Brian’s presence to have been noticed by an attentive TO.

“Additionally, it was asserted that a TO would have had sufficient time to react and bring the train to a stop many metres before Brian’s location. The court heard that these omissions may have resulted from the fact that Platform 13 is a terminus platform, which could result in a lowered level of attention on the part of TOs.”

The inquest into Mr Mitchell’s death noted he was under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred. Mr Irvine warned of the potential for future fatalities if steps aren’t taken to enhance the safety of automatic train operation.

He noted that in the two years since Mr Mitchell’s demise, investigations carried out by British Transport Police, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, and TFL have failed to identify ways to reduce the risk of such an accident recurring.

He emphasised the need for systems to detect and alert staff to individuals on the tracks. Currently, there is no information available on how drivers are trained to focus on the tracks while operating automatic trains, a gap that Mr Irvine suggested needs addressing.

Similarly, there is no evidence to show that training for station staff has improved communication clarity during emergencies. The report was submitted to Mayor Khan, Transport for London and the Department for Transport.