Transport minister Ben Martins on Monday turned down proposals to install cameras and panic buttons on trains.

The minister put in writing that a technical evaluation had been conducted to check whether the safety measures would be possible to implement.

“The result of the technical evaluation was that the interior design of the current coaches was not conducive to installing and incapable of offering the requisite level of protection to the CCTV camera unit to ensure a sustainable and vandal proof video surveillance service.” Martins said.

It is possible to install panic buttons on trains, but it would not be practical to do so.

“The potential to activate the panic alarm for deviant, malicious and/or nuisance purposes without the instant ability to confirm the validity of the activation and the circumstances surrounding the reason for activation outweighed the possible substantive benefit that this device could provide,” said the minister.

According to Martins, there would be extensive delays to passengers because of the installation of panic buttons.

“The resultant service delay to clear the train for onward service from a safety compliance perspective after a panic alarm condition would increase passenger dissatisfaction and indefinitely halt train service in [the] said rail corridor.”