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Intoxicated passengers could be at risk on the tube unless safety is improved, a coroner has warned.
Mary Hassell, senior coroner for Inner North London, warned of future deaths after Artist Sarah Cunningham was hit by a northbound Northern Line train at Chalk Farm station.
The 31-year-old was drunk as well as being on cocaine and ketamine when she was hit by the train after she walked into a tunnel at about 3.30am on November 2 last year.
It took Tfl workers two days to find Ms Cunningham’s body after she was reported missing.
The family’s lawyers, Leigh Day, have said they are ‘concerned that Transport for London does not appear to have committed to any actions to reduce the risks of this happening again in future’.
They said CCTV footage played in court showed the artist spent around five minutes in the entrance hall at Chalk Farm station before she was let through the barriers by a member of the public
There were no workers at the barriers as one was taking a break while another was on a phone call, which meant the CCTV was not being monitored.
A staff member at the station told the inquest he had seen Ms Cunningham on CCTV and was worried for her safety.
Artist Sarah Cunningham was hit by a northbound Northern Line train at Chalk Farm station
The 31-year-old was drunk as well as being on cocaine and ketamine when she was hit by the train after she walked into a tunnel at about 3.30am on November 2
However when he went to see her, he could not find her and did not go back on the footage to check where she had gone.
Once she entered the station, she was on the platform for 12 minutes, initially lying on a bench before narrowly missing a northbound train, running up to the carriage as the doors were closing. She then entered the tunnel.
Leigh Day said the inquest heard there was an 18-minute gap between Miss Cunningham entering the tunnel and the next train passing through the station.
In her report, Ms Hassell said TfL planning should have a greater focus on the safety of intoxicated passengers on its network.
She said: ‘Extreme intoxication is also known to be a risk to the individual who is intoxicated. However, it struck me that the risk to the individual is not necessarily at the forefront of TfL corporate thinking.
‘Clearly, individuals have responsibility for their own drinking and/or drug taking, and the consequences thereof. Intoxication carries additional risk, whatever the activity.
‘However, public transport is encouraged for many good reasons. Not least, it is a matter of public policy that those who are or may become intoxicated should make travel plans that do not involve being in charge of a vehicle. The London Underground is an obvious alternative.
‘Realistically, some London Underground passengers will be intoxicated and that has to inform TfL’s corporate planning.’
The report said Miss Cunningham, who was a resident at the Lisson Gallery in London and had exhibited art in Berlin, New York and Los Angeles, was a ‘sporadic user of drugs on a recreational basis’.
The last photo Ms Cunningham shared on social media shows her in Seoul, South Korea
Once she entered Chalk Farm station, she was on the platform for 12 minutes, initially laying on a bench before narrowly missing a northbound train, running up to the carriage as the doors were closing
Thomas Jervis, a partner at Leigh Day said: ‘Sarah’s family believe her case is one in a long line of others shining a light on TfL’s approach to public safety’. Pictured: Sarah Cunningham
Thomas Jervis, a partner at Leigh Day said: ‘Sarah’s family believe her case is one in a long line of others shining a light on TfL’s approach to public safety.
‘They welcome the senior coroner’s prevention of future deaths report and sincerely hope that TfL use it as a real opportunity to make meaningful changes so that individuals are safe on the transport network.’
The report said TfL has a duty to respond by June 16.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Sarah Cunningham, who tragically died at Chalk Farm Tube station on November 2 2024.
‘We are supporting the coroner in relation to the inquest into this incident and we have carried out our own internal investigation, which we have shared with the coroner.
‘We recognise the important role our staff play in protecting customers from harm and we will always take action to learn from incidents and improve operational safety.’
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