We raised the following petition on the Government website

We the undersigned petition the prime Minister to Force all overhead rail companies to reduce the gap between the trains and platforms to prevent any more deaths like that of Simon Slade who was killed at Gidea Park staion on the 11th Jan07.

We would like to thank the 679 people that signed it.

The Government response was as follows

The tragic incident at Gidea Park is still under investigation by both the British Transport Police and the Office of Rail Regulation's Her Majesty's Railways Inspectorate. Therefore, the Government are unable to comment on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Government is advised on railway safety matters by the Office of Rail Regulation (new window), the independent health & safety regulator for the railways. The Office of Rail Regulation has confirmed that the gap between the platform and the train at Gidea Park station meets the industry's Railway Group Standard and the Office of Rail Regulation's Railway Safety Principles and Guidance standard. These standards specify the permitted distances between a train and a platform. The Government will not be in a position to provide a more comprehensive response until the Coroner's Inquest into Simon's death has been completed. The Office of Rail Regulation will be in touch with Simon's parents to discuss what follow-up may be needed, once the inquiry has concluded.