The UK Rail Safety and Standards Board has launched a £50,000 scientific research project to investigate the risk of deep vein thrombosis to rail passengers travelling in crowded conditions.
Deep vein thrombosis is a potentially fatal condition, which is thought to occur when a blood clot forms in one of the deep leg veins that carry blood back to the heart. A piece of this blood clot can then break off causing a fatal blockage in the lung.
The condition, which has killed dozens of long-haul airline passengers in the past, is not yet documented in rail passengers.
DVT is thought to arise when passengers are subjected to cramped conditions and it is believed that the condition affects one in 2,000 people in the UK every year.
The UK's RSSB, however, describes the research project as a precautionary measure meant to reduce all possible risk to passengers.
By Daniel Garrun.
