A FATHER whose son died after falling from an old slam-door train carriage today welcomed a new device to help counter potentially catastrophic effects when the trains crash.

Edwin Fisher, 76, of Belmont Road, Adlington, who has not been on a train himself since his son's death seven years ago, said any efforts to improve safety were to be applauded.

His son Steve, aged only 24 at the time, died after he plunged through the doors of a train as it was pulling into Preston Station while returning from a Manchester United football match.

A train spotter near the site of the tragic accident told an inquest into Steven's' death that he had seen him leaning out of a door window with both hands inside the train. Two years after the crash, British Rail announced it was to spend £17 million to fit new locks on InterCity trains after it was found some slam doors could open unexpectedly if leaned on or interfered with.

Reminder

Mr Fisher told today of how Steve's death has been a constant reminder to him of the dangers of the old slam-door trains.

He spent two years campaigning to have the door locks properly investigated.

He said: "It has never left me. I still have a bitter memory of the accident.

"I welcome anything which improves safety and reduces the dangers faced on the railways now that trains are getting faster. "My son should still be alive today, everyone should learn from my family's tragedy."

A new safety device - not connected to door safety - has been tested by Heath and Safety experts because slam-door train carriages are suspected of a fatal fault where they ride over each other in a crash.

Two carriages were deliberately crashed into each other to test a special "cup and cone" system which it is hoped will prevent train carriages piling.

The question of the crashworthiness of slam-door carriages was raised after the Clapham rail crash which claimed 35 lives 10 years ago.

MPs have recommended the carriages as dangerous and called for them to be either scrapped or remodified. About 2,300 are in use on the passenger railways.

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