JONATHAN FINDLAY, SPT

GLASS walls are to be erected at the edge of Glasgow Subway platforms to prevent people committing suicide by jumping in front of moving trains.

The floor to ceiling barriers will also stop passengers falling or being pushed on the line.

The move is part of the £250million upgrade of the network, which will result in driverless trains and new tickets similar to London's Oyster card.

Platform screen doors are designed to open at the same time as carriage doors open.

That makes it impossible for anyone to be pushed or to fall in front of a moving train.

Last June trains were suspended for four hours after a man committed suicide at Govan station.

As well as increasing safety, the new screens will also cut the blast of rushing air caused by trains approaching a station.

They have been found to improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning and prevent litter building up on tracks, which can be a fire hazard.

Screen doors are widely used on transport systems around the world, including London's Jubilee and Victoria lines.

They are also features of transport systems in America, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan.

Last year, officials from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport visited Paris, where the security system has been installed on a 100-year-old Metro line. Line One was the first line to open on the transport system and the first to be converted to driverless trains.

The Glasgow Subway opened in December 1896 and is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after London Underground and the Budapest Metro.

Jonathan Findlay, chairman of SPT, said: "There are logistical issues with the design of Glasgow's Subway stations, but it looks as if it will be possible to install sliding glass doors, which is very good news.

"That will mean the full extent of the platforms can be used. This will create more space and result in a safer environment, particularly for passengers who are visually impaired.

"We hope the new doors will give a lot more confidence to passengers, especially those who use the stations with island platforms, where trains arrive on either side.

"The glass screens will make a huge difference there."

There are nine stations with island platforms. These are at West Street, Bridge Street, Kelvinhall, Kelvinbridge, St George's Cross, Cowcaddens, Shields Road, Kinning Park and Cessnock.

A report to SPT said of the work done in Paris: "This project has the most directly comparable issues with the Subway modernisation."

The report says the technical and engineering challenges in Paris were similar to what will be needed in Glasgow and it points out the full automation of the 100-year-old railway was achieved without loss of service.

"The visit included meeting the project director and management team for Paris Line One, who provided a detailed insight into the project, the challenges faced and techniques used to overcome the challenges – for example, the installation of platform screen doors.

"The inclusion of platform screen doors is a key element in fully automating the operations.

"In the case of Paris Line One we learned from their experience during installation where the doors were installed without any major closure of stations."

A Subway spokesman said: "Along with the new driverless trains and signalling that is planned, platform screen doors will transform the Subway experience for passengers.

"They will enhance the look and feel of our platforms, as well as improving efficiency as trains arrive and depart. The doors will also provide reassurance to all our customers.

"Platform screen doors have been hugely successful on the Paris Metro and on London's Jubilee Line and we are determined to make sure our Subway passengers in Glasgow reap the benefits also."

As part of the package of safety improvements, SPT is to spend £130,000 installing new tactile tiles in all 15 stations.

Once the work is complete, dark grey ridged tiles will run along all Subway platforms alerting passengers that the platform edge is just 20in (500mm) away.

Corduroy strips have also recently been installed at the top and bottom of flights of stairs and anti-slip material has been placed on all steps at each of the stations.

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk