Millions of pounds has been paid out to people injured using London buses and trains in the last three years, according to new figures obtained by Southwark Liberal Democrat councillors and covered in today’s Evening Standard.

Transport for London (TfL) has regularly been paying out tens of thousands of pounds for individual cases of travellers tripping over, getting caught in Tube doors, and slipping on wet platforms.

A total of £4.76m was paid to members of the public since 2010 to compensate accidents and injuries incurred using public transport or whilst at TfL property.

Amongst the list of highest claims was a blind person paid £34,030 after being caught in an automatic door, £15,168 for somebody who had their elbow trapped in a Tube, and a would-be traveller given £10,050 after a seat on a platform collapsed.

In one case a British Transport Police officer got £11,575 after apparently falling from a chair in London Underground premises.

The highest pay out since 2010 was £158,584 for somebody who tripped over a pillar on a pavement.

The list of compensation claims was revealed in a response to a Freedom of Information request by Southwark Liberal Democrats.

Commenting, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Southwark Council, Cllr Anood Al-Samerai, said:

“These are extraordinary figures which yet again show we’re living in a compensation culture gone mad.”

“If somebody is seriously injured and TfL is at fault then clearly there is a need for compensation to cover medical bills and time off work. But with so many large claims going through the system, I would question why TfL aren’t saving themselves some big payouts by upgrading safety standards for travellers.”

“Londoners spend a lot of money on bus and Tube fares. They want to know it’s being used to invest in a modern public transport system, not going up the wall on hundreds of expensive compensation payouts.”