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Jane Sullivan

In message
,
writes
It is very easy to find oneself on a tube platform with a group of
potential assailants positioned between oneself and the exit. In such
situations the only means of escape, should the group turn hostile,
would be across the tracks to the neighbouring platform.

As I understand it you cannot cross the rails to another platform on the
tube except where the stations are in the open air. On the sub-surface
lines (i.e. not the tube), you can, though.

What is the recommended method of crossing tracks in these situations?

By the footbridge, subway or equivalent.

There seem to be a variable number of rails making up the tracks,
usually about 5. Which of these are 'live'?

You should assume that all of them are live.

Will stepping on a live rail result in immediate death?

It might and it might not. It depends what is insulating your feet.
However, you don't have to step on a rail to contact it: you could brush
against it or, if the voltage is high enough and you get close enough to
the rail without touching it, you could get a flashover.

Note that stepping on a live rail doesn't seem to affect the pigeons.

What is the
safe distance from a live rail?

Stay on the platform. It is against the law for an unauthorised person
to be on the track.

Is it safe to tread on a live rail
with only one foot with the other in the air, in order to avoid
earthing the current?

--
Jane
British OO, American and Australian HO, and DCC in the garden
http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html