‘Gap diving’ is the common train habit UK commuters are embarrassed to admit to

Would you chance it? (Picture: Getty)

While a quarter of Brits have seen someone caught in the closing doors of a train, just one in 20 admit they’ve made a last-minute dash into the carriage themselves.

That either means a few prolific serial offenders around the country, or a whole lot of people are lying about the public transport faux pas Metro has dubbed ‘gap diving’.

In a new Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) survey looking into the UK’s most dangerous rail habits, running for a train was the most common, with32% saying they were guilty of it.

This is despite the fact half called it embarrassing to witness; a statement 79% of respondents agreed with when it came to getting stuck in train doors.

Reddit is full of posts condemning those who barrel through the platform and throw themselves on board as the warning beeps sound — ending up passenger non grata even if they do narrowly make it.

In one recent r/london thread, gap divers were called ‘selfish’, ‘rude’, and ‘stupid’, with @edgillett writing: ‘Why should everyone else be inconvenienced because one person’s running late?’

‘London commuters are switched on but easily p***ed off — they will be judging you,’ added TfL driver @skoodledoo. ‘The beeping sound is a warning, not a challenge.’

And the ire was especially strong for gap diving on the Underground, given how regularly services run.

‘It’s absolutely ludicrous that people do this on the Tube when there’s another train in literally 1-2 minutes,’ commented @griffinstorme, while @harjoat noted: ‘They’re slowing down the entire train because they don’t want to wait two minutes for the next one.’

It’s really not worth the risk (Picture: Getty Images)

Humiliation isn’t the most pressing issue though; 800 preventable injuries take place across the Thameslink network each year because of reckless passenger behaviour.

Similarly, CCTV footage shows the terrifying consequences of gap diving gone wrong, with passengers getting injured by the doors or even falling onto the tracks.

Katerina Krizanova, onboard supervisor at GTR’s Victoria Depot, tells Metro: ‘I see people race the train like it’s a game — running for doors, slipping through at the last second, believing “just this once” will be fine. 

‘And so many do it without even looking up, eyes fixed on their phones, unaware of where they are or what’s around them.

‘But on the railway, those habits don’t save time — they gamble with safety, and one mistimed step can turn a routine journey into something far more serious.’

To encourage travellers to slow down and board safely, the train operator has partnered with comedian Diane Morgan for a new campaign.

The film shows the Philomena Cunk star on the verge of committing common station safety no-nos, aiming to put across the message that risky behaviour has negative consequences, and ask people to think twice before chancing it.

Morgan commented, in her signature dry style: ‘Unlike some of my comedy contemporaries, who would love to see passengers fall down stairs or get their head trapped in the closing doors, I have always made it quite clear that rail safety is my number one priority.’

‘We know that people are busy, journeys can be rushed, and some of these habits are so ingrained that they stop feeling like risks at all,’ added Samantha Facey, GTR health, safety and security director.

‘If you’ve ever sprinted for a train, wrestled luggage onto an escalator, or tested a closing door, watch the film. It might just change your mind.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Comments Add as preferred source