The problem is, when a train with a straight side tries to pass the platform. If they don’t shave the platform back enough that the car ends can safely clear the platform, the train could collide with the platform.
So, the Syosset station platform has a enlarged gap at certain points because of the curve problem.
Not surprisingly, many of the door opening points at Syosset have platform gaps that range between 10 to 15 inches at the sharpest points. And, to make matters worse, the track is superelevated through the station to allow for faster operating speed and less wear and tear on the tracks.
Back a couple of decades ago, there was a storm of gap-related incidents. And, there was even a couple month span where their were loads of gap incidents. With gap incidents come lawsuits, and the LIRR got quite a bit of time in court following this. Syosset, got the heat of the news as it was the location of many of these incidents. In January 1996, there was one day where 3 different gap incidents occurred in the same day. What a coincidence.
Now, a gap of 10-15 inches should be easily manageable by any able-bodied adult, right, but with the age of smartphones and more and more people staring at there cellphones while stupidly attempting to board a train, the gap incidents have gone on a sudden rise. You’d think that the gap incidents would’ve gone down, right, considering the station has been there for only 159 years!! However, people don’t pay attention, if they could take their eyes off their smartphones for a mere 12 seconds to confirm their foot is extending onto the train, this wouldn’t be an issue. And if people do “fall” into the gap, they enjoy suing the LIRR for any injuries they may recieve. In my point of view, why should the LIRR have to pay for a person’s stupidity and lack of common sense.
Since then, the LIRR has significantly ramped up their efforts to alert people of the gap. They started a signage campaign and this consisted of “Watch the gap” announcements on trains, and reminders to watch the gap all over the platforms and trains.
And Syosset is the jackpot of the effort. The invaluable vlog, The LIRR Today’s creator, Patrick, had made a similar post and he had gone to Syosset and counted how many watch the gap warnings there were. Can you guess? Take a guess and then scroll down.
The answer is 258!
Yep, you heard it right, there are at least 258 watch the gap signs of all types and sizes plastered all over the Syosset station
Here is a montage of photos of some of the different types of Watch the gap “merchandise” at Syosset:
In addition to all of that, the LIRR poured in the money to station a special “platform conductor” to help with the boarding and alighting process at the station. His main role is to help those who may require extra assistance when boarding or exiting. He’s stationed on the westbound platform in the morning, and eastbound in the afternoon.
Millions of more dollars have been spent on studies aiming to solve the door gap problem. Some have proposed gap fillers as seen in some NYC subway stations, however that would be ridiculously expensive and the gap isn’t even that big. Others have proposed moving the station however I think that obviously isn’t going to happen any time soon.
Instead, I think the best solution is (tell me if I’m wrong)
Step over the damn gap.