Life Saving Train Emergency Exit System Developed

Rail Engineering Company, Pickersgill-Kaye Ltd, has developed an innovative exit system (UK patent application No. 0030842.9) that will aid faster escape from railway carriages during rail incidents. Developed in response to the problems identified following recent rail disasters at Southall and Ladbroke Grove, the system breaks the escape windows on the carriage.

The device builds into the vehicle structure alongside the window and is operated by pulling the handle. On activation, both panels of toughened glass in the double-glazed side windows break simultaneously allowing trapped passengers to escape by simply pushing the glass out.

The exit system could replace the current system which relies on, firstly, locating a special hammer and then separately breaking each individual pane of glass.

To prevent accidental operation, a sliding cover is installed which, when opened, sounds an audible alarm. The alarm can be connected to the train system to inform the driver or guard and to apply the emergency brakes.

Announcing the new development, Harry Griffiths, Sales Manager at Pickersgill-Kaye, said "The K-TEX emergency exit system is very simple to install and operate and has the potential to save valuable time and lives. It can be retrofitted to existing vehicles and is not easily vandalised or removed. The existing system has many inherent problems; the hammer can sometimes be difficult to find and often goes missing, and then there’s the problem of breaking the first pane, clearing the glass, and smashing the second pane before escaping".


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A broadcast quality video of the K-TEX device demonstration is available.
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