What is crucial to ensure before departing a station with passengers?

Verifying door closure is essential before departing a station with passengers for several reasons. First and foremost, passenger safety is the top priority. Ensuring that the doors are securely closed prevents any risk of passengers accidentally falling out of the train or having their belongings caught in the doors, which could lead to severe accidents. Additionally, a train departing with open doors can cause significant delays, as it may trigger safety systems to halt the train or alert operators.

While checking fuel levels and confirming train speed limits are important operational considerations, they do not directly address the immediate safety of passengers boarding and alighting from the train. Completing safety checks of the route is also critical but typically pertains to the track and signals rather than the conditions within the train itself. Thus, the verification of door closure stands out as a primary action to ensure passenger safety before the train embarks.