Taking a break

No updates for a while - I'm off for a break so the next updates here will be in early June.

INCIDENT: Ardrossan Harbour AOCL, Ayrshire 24.01.09

A car was struck by a passenger train at an automatic open crossing in Ayrshire. The Rail Safety and Standards Board reported that the driver of the train had failed to operate the plunger which controls the warning lights at the crossing.

Photo (c) wfmillar at Geograph

TECHNOLOGY: Obstacle detection

Trials of the UK's first level crossing obstacle detection system have begun at a crossing in North Yorkshire.

The radar-style system is being installed at the manually controlled barrier crossing outside Filey station. It will operate after the barriers have been closed to check that the crossing is clear before the protecting signals can be cleared.

A Network Rail spokeswoman said that Filey had been chosen as it met 'various technical criteria' rather than any history of crossing misuse.

Comment: An interesting development, albeit not as revolutionary as some may think. Obstacle detection for MCB crossings could be a precursor to fully automated manual crossings, but for the foreseeable future it can only be an adjunct to the current CCTV system. Some observers claim that the technology would have prevented the recent incident at West Knapton AHB, but that would only have been the case if it were linked into protecting signals.

See the RSSB research report into obstacle detection for a fuller explanation of the background and technology.

NEAR MISS: Cleghorn MCB CCTV, Lanarkshire 10.02.09

Reports suggest that a school bus avoided a collision with a passenger train at a Scottish barrier crossing. Cleghorn has been upgraded to a manually controlled full barrier crossing after sustained abuse by motorists. Allegations have been made that the crossing has not been functioning correctly.

No other details were available.

Lanark Gazette:
http://www.lanarkgazette.co.uk/news/Nearmiss-at-Cleghorn-level-crossing.4966109.jp

Photo (c) Raymond Okonski at Geograph

UPDATE: Hythe 2008

A majority not guilty verdict was returned in a manslaughter case arising from a woman's death on a level crossing in 2008.

Darren Palmer had been alleged to have dragged his partner, Kelly Mack, over the Hythe MCB crossing against her will. Miss Mack caught her boot in the crossing and was subsequently struck by a train.

Both had climbed over the closed barriers at the crossing near Colchester in an attempt to reach the opposite platform for a departing service. Mr Palmer said he thought that Miss Mack was following him, but instead she had become caught up in the rails. A witness tried to pull her to safety but told how she "curled up into a ball" before being hit by the train.

Mr Palmer later commented that crossing the track when the barrier was down was "the stupidest mistake of my life".

INVESTIGATION: Bunchrew AOCL

An investigation into alleged failures at a Scottish automatic open crossing has revealed a battery used to power train detection gear was losing power.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) met with Network Rail over concerns that the warning lights at the crossing at Bunchrew, Invernessshire, had failed on several occasions.

A spokesman for ORR said: "The immediate cause of the failures was exhaustion of the battery power supply to track circuits, with underlying causes relating to local factors at the crossing and possibly the particular batch of batteries.

"The track circuits are used for train detection and thereby initiate crossing operation."

He added: "Network Rail have reassessed the demand made on the supplies at Bunchrew and have increased the frequency at which the batteries are replaced and are taking other steps to ensure that the problem does not recur.

"ORR will continue to monitor performance at the crossing and we note that there have been no further failures from this cause since remedial action was taken."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We have worked closely with the ORR throughout their investigation at Bunchrew level crossing and will be incorporating their recommendations into our regular maintenance regime."

INCIDENT: Attleborough MCG 11.02.09

A car collided with the gates at a manually controlled crossing in Norfolk.

British Transport Police said that the barriers were being closed when the Renault Clio approached the crossing and struck them.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.

Photo (c) Ron Strutt on Geograph

INCIDENT: Moulinearn UWC MSL, Perthshire 08.02.09

A pedestrian was struck and killed on a user worked crossing at Moulinearn.

Frank Clifford, 94, was hit by the 0918 Inverness to Glasgow passenger service. The crossing, protected by minature stop lights, was the scene of a fatal collision between a car and a train in 2001.

BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7876572.stm

Photo (c) BBC News

INCIDENT: West Knapton AHB, North Yorkshire 03.02.09

A car collided with a train on an automatic half-barrier crossing in Yorkshire.

The driver claimed to have been dazzled by the sun as he approached West Knapton AHB. He clipped a barrier and collided with the rear carriage of the 10.22 Liverpool to Scarborough TransPennine Express service. No injuries were reported on the train which did not derail. The driver sustained minor injuries.

British Tramsport Police have launched an investigation.

The Rail Safety and Standards Board reported in their February 2009 Summary of Safety Performance that the "road vehicle driver attempted to zigzag around the barriers".

Scarborough Evening News: http://bit.ly/scarboro_lc

Photo (c) The Press

CAMPAIGN: Don't Run The Risk 2009

Network Rail have released video footage of level crossing misuse as part of the ongoing Don't Run The Risk campaign.

Fifteen deaths and twenty rail-vehicle collisons were reported in 2008. Netwrok Rail say that 95% of accidents at level crossings can be attributed to public misuse or error.

A short compilation on the BBC News website.

Full video clips can be downloaded from the National Rail Media Centre here.

INCIDENT: Gwaun cae Gurwen AOC 02.02.09

A car was struck by a locomotive at a crossing on a recently reopened freight line.

Witnesses say that car skidded downhill onto the crossing in wintry conditions and was struck by a slow moving locomotive. No casualties were reported and the locomotive did not derail.

Police are considering prosecuting the driver for dangerous driving

County councillor Lynda Williams said the warning lights were insufficient and that gates or barriers ought to be installed.

Although trains have not run on the line for almost ten years, it was never formally closed. Frieght traffic began running again on January 12th this year. Network Rail carried out an awareness campaign in the area before the line became operational.

INCIDENT: Gatehead AHB 23.01.09

A teenage pedestrian was struck and killed by a passenger train on an AHB crossing in Scotland.

It has been reported that Robert Milloy may have been distracted by listening to music on earphones linked to his mobile phone. He was struck on the Gatehead crossing by the 1140 GMT Girvan to Kilmarnock service and died instantly.

A Network Rail spokesman said there had been no previous serious incidents at the crossing prior and a preliminary investigation found it to be in working order. Robert's father, Rab Milloy, wants Network Rail to carry out a risk assessment on the crossing.

Kilmarnock Standard: http://bit.ly/lc_gatehead

Photo (c) Rosser1954 at wikipedia

INCIDENT: Brandon MCB 22.01.09

A pedestrian died after being struck by a passenger train on a manually controlled barrier crossing on the Norfolk/Sufflok border.

Bury Free Press: http://bit.ly/lc_brandon

Photo (c) Keith Evans on Geograph

PROSECUTION: Lower Cefn Farm 2008

A lorry driver whose vehicle collided with a train at a user-worked level crossing near Welshpool last year has avoided a custodial sentence.

Arthur Roberts pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering railway passengers by wilful omission or neglect when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court. In Spetmeber 2008, Roberts drove to Lower Cefn Farm over a UWC+T and failed to contact the signaller for permission to cross in either direction. On his return journey, the rear of his lorry was struck at 70mph by a Birmingham to Aberystwyth passenger service.

Roberts was given a four month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.

http://bit.ly/lc_buttington

INCIDENT: South Drove AHB, Lincolnshire 05.01.09

A woman died when her car crashed on a crossing in icy conditions and was then struck by a passenger train.

Moira Koune was driving over the South Drove AHB near Spalding, Lincolnshire, when her car was in collision with a Ford Transit van. Her car was stuck on the crossing when the barriers descended and was hit by the 0833 Peterborough to Lincoln passenger service. The van driver was able to steer clear of the crossing and was trying to reach Miss Koune's car when it was struck. No injuries were reported on the train, which did nor derail.

Photo (c) Richard Croft at geograph

REPORT: Moor Lane FP, Staines

The RAIB have issued their report into the pedestrian fatality at Moor Lane footpath crossing in April 2008. Mrs Theresa Mansell was killed after falling on the crossing and being struck by a passenger train.

They identified that Mrs Mansell did not stop to check that the line was clear before crossing. When she tried to turn and go back, she slipped on the timber crossing surface, which was described in the report as 'treacherous', and she was stranded in front of the oncoming train.

In their report, the RAIB noted that a non-slip surface to the crossing had been
considered by Railtrack in 1996 and requested by Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) in 2005. It further noted that the risk assessment processes operated for footpath crossings by Railtrack and more recently by Network Rail did not identify the risk of slipping on a timber surface, and as a result a non-slip surface was not provided at the crossing.

Network Rail have since applied a non-slip surface at Moor Lane and repainted white lines along the edges of the crossing.

RAIB report: http://bit.ly/raib_moor_lane_2

PROSECUTION: Darsham UWC

A driver has been prosecuted for driving over a user worked crossing without telephoning for permission to cross.

Nigel Buckingham, 56, drove across the Lowestoft to Ipswich railway track near Darsham into the path of an oncoming train. The train driver had to apply the emergency brake to slow the train, which stopped on the crossing moments after the car had passed.

Buckingham was fined a total of £230.

EDP24: http://bit.ly/darsham

INCIDENT: Sandfields OC, Devon 20.12.08

A passenger train struck the rear of a road vehicle at an open crossing in Devon. The type of road vehicle and the state of the driver is not known. There were no injuries reported on the train, which did not derail.

Photo (c) Johnathan Billinger at Geograph

INCIDENT: Crescent Road AHB Southport 13/12/08

A woman may be charged with careless driving, endangering public safety and obstructing the railway after making a wrong turn at a level crossing and driving onto the rails.

She is believed to have turned too early at the AHB crossing in Crescent Road, Birkdale, believing it was the road running parallel to the track. Instead, she drove away from the crossing and onto to the tracks, her car eventually getting stuck.

The driver left her car and walked over live rails to return to the crossing where she called the signalman on the emergency telephone. An approaching train was subsequently halted.

Reports suggest that similar errors have been made in the past as the crossingis adjacent to a crossroad junction.


Southport Visitor: http://bit.ly/birkdale

PROSECUTION: Barrow Haven UWC, Lincolnshire

A motorist has been found guilty of obstructing a railway by wilfully neglecting to obey a stop, look and listen sign. Ian Wathen drove through an already-open gate at the Barrow Haven UWC on West Marsh Road and his trailer, carrying a boat, was hit by a passenger train.

Mr Wathern told the court that his view of the track had been obscured by foliage and that pedestrians on the far side of the crossing had indicated for him to cross as they held a gate open. Only when his vehicle was on the tracks did he see the oncoming train, which collided with the boat and trailer.

Wathen was released on bail until sentencing in the new year.

This Is Scunthorpe: http://bit.ly/westmarshlane

Photo (c) David Wright on geograph

INCIDENT: Cosham CCTV, Hampshire 11/12/08

A van collided with the barriers of a CCTV crossing after allegedly attempting to dodge around them.

Diversions were put in place around Cosham whilst Network Rail repaired the damage.

No arrests were made and no injuries reported.

INCIDENT: Winchelsea AOCL, East Sussex 04.12.08

A passenger train collided with a car on an AOCL next to Winchelsea station.

Two occupants in the car were injured when the 4.30 Ashford to Brighton service clipped the front of their Ford Fiesta. No injuries were reported on the train, which did not derail.

Hastings Observer: http://bit.ly/winchelsea

INCIDENT: Bayles & Wylies (Moor Lane) FP, Nottinghamshire 22.11.08

A woman and her grandson were killed after being struck by a passenger train on Moor Lane footpath crossing, Bestwood, Nottingham.

Jean Hoggart and Mikey Dawson were hit by the 17.45 Worksop to Nottingham service. No injuries were reported on the train, which did not derail. The gated crossing, which is protected by whistle boards, is said by Network Rail to be in 'good condition'.

Local MP Paddy Tipping said there had also been a long-running campaign to improve lighting at the crossing. County councillor Chris Baron has been campaigning to improve safety at local crossings, including Moor Lane, for over a decade. He claims the lighting and signage are inadequate.

The RAIB have launched an investigation.

Photo (c) BBC News

BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7744475.stm

This Is Nottingham:
http://bit.ly/bestwood_1, http://bit.ly/bestwood_2, http://bit.ly/bestwood_3

FAILURE: Garve AOCL, Ross-shire 29/11/08

The failure of a notorious Scottish automatic opening crossing has be attributed to a power cut.

A track circuit problem at the crossing in Garve, Ross-shire, led to the lights and sirens failing to activate as a passenger train approached Garve station. Network Rail reported that the driver's white warning light, which indicates AOC failure to train crew, worked correctly and the service was able to stop well before the crossing. The driver was able to use the trackside manual control to initiate the crossing closure system and continue into Garve station.

Garve was ranked by the Rail Safety and Standards Board as the most misused automatic open crossing in the UK in the period 1998-2005.

Photo (c) Frederik Ramm from On the Road in North-West Scotland

INQUEST: Haltwhistle 2008

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of a teenager killed after being hit by a train on Haltwhisltle user crossing in January this year.

Christopher David Walton Walton had been helping to deliver coal at night to an adjacent property and was standing on the unlit crossing. It was claimed that the traffic noise and headlights of vehicles on the nearby A69 may have made it difficult for Mr Walton to know that a train was approaching.

Rail inspector John Tilley said the crossing had been "sub-standard" for a number of years and that it ought to be closed, a sentiment echoed by Mr Walton's parents.

Network Rail stated that they are in discussion with the landowner with respect to the crossing and that closure is NRs preferred option.

Hexham Courant: http://bit.ly/lc_haltwhistle_1

Journal Live: http://bit.ly/lc_haltwhistle_2

UPDATE: Smiths Lower Farm, Welshpool

A father and son from Shropshire have appeared in court following a crash on a level crossing near Welshpool involving a lorry and a train carrying more than 100 passengers.

Arthur Roberts, 45, and 15-year-old Leon Roberts, both of Cherry Tree Drive, St Martins, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday.

They both denied a charge that by an unlawful act, or wilfully, they failed to comply with level crossing regulations, endangering the safety of people being conveyed on the railway at Buttington on September 10.

The case was adjourned for trial in January and the pair were released on bail.

INCIDENT: Bathampton UWC+MWL, Somerset 12.11.2008

A van driver escaped injury when his vehicle was in collision with a passenger train on a user-worked crossing in Somerset.

Alan Saunders had driven onto the crossing at Bathampton, claiming that the warning light at the crossing signalled that it was safe for him to do so. Having opened the gate on the opposite side of the crossing, he returned to his vehicle which was then struck on the bonnet by the South West Trains 0850 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury service. He was unhurt as were all those on the train, which did not derail.

Mr Saunders was arrested soon after the incident on suspicion of dangerous driving. He was later released on police bail.

The owner of Bathampton Home Farm, Matt McKillop, whose farm entrance is by the crossing, said he had raised concerns about the light signal in the past. He said: “The light is very unclear on the crossing and when the sun is shining you can’t see whether it is on or off. There should be two lights at the crossing and all we want is a red and a green one instead of one that's white".

BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7724407.stm
This Is Wiltshire: http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/3840213.Chaos_as_passenger_train_hits_van__/
This Is Bath: http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Train-hits-car-Bath-level-crossing/article-468453-detail/article.html

Photo (C) bbc.co.uk

Comment: Does anyone have examples of how a single white warning light operates? It's not something that I'm familiar with.

INCIDENT: Wraysholme AOC, Cumbria 03.11.08

A car driver died when his vehicle was struck by a train on an automatic open crossing in Cumbria.

John Crabtree, 41, of Ulverston, was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision between his red Mitsubishi Carisma and the 0937 Carlisle to Lancaster two-coach Northern Rail train. None of the train crew or the 32 passengers on the train were injured. The train was not derailed.

A British Transport Police spokesman said that witnesses reported seeing Mr Crabtree drive onto the crossing as the warning lights were flashing.

Stuart Wilson of Wyke Farm, adjacent to the crossing, believes barriers are needed at the site. He claims that low sunlight makes the warning lights difficult to see.

It is the second vehicle collision at the crossing this year (see archived story for more details). Keith Lumley, spokesman for Network Rail, said that a risk assessment of the crossing following the collision in February deemed the level of equipment to be adequate. “Now we have had a second incident," said Mr Lumley, "we will revisit the risk assessment and look to see if anything can be done.”

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.

BBC News: http://tinyurl.com/wraysholme
Westmoreland Gazzette: http://tinyurl.com/wraysholme1
North West Evening Mail: http://tinyurl.com/wraysholme2
Grange Local: http://tinyurl.com/wraysholme3

Comment: Would the crossing benefit from half-barrier installation? Does a fatality following on from an earlier collision now alter the risk assessment? Or is this just a salutary reminder of the possible consequences of crossing misuse? I haven't seen any photos or detailed maps of the area, so it's difficult to comment on the suitability of Wraysholme's AOC status. But it's interesting to note that the Office of Rail Regulation have issued an improvement notice on NR for the crossing, stating that "all suitable steps have not been taken" to ensure that crossing users are "not exposed to risks".

And, a note to the BBC and some local papers who reported that the crossing had barriers- why not search your own archives first for corroboration?

CAMPAIGN: Don't Run The Risk

Network Rail have issued a number of statistics related to level crossing incidents in support of their "Don't Run The Risk" campaign.

Between January and September 2008, there have been 2636 reported incidents of crossing misuse. 14% of these incidents resulted in a near miss.

The clear majority of misuse (66%) involved pedestrians. Twelve people have been killed on level crossings this year. On average three vehicles were involved in a near miss every week There have also been thirteen collisions between a road vehicle and a train.

Network Rail make it clear that level crossings are safe if used correctly and that UK fatality rate for level crossing incidents is amongst the lowest in Europe.

Network Rail: http://bit.ly/NOVL

CAMPAIGN: Don't Run The Risk TV Advert

As part of Network Rail's ongoing level crossing safety campaign, Don't Run The Risk, a new television advert has been launched.

Perhaps in response to fatalities this year, the advert shows that pedestrians (including dog-walkers and children) as well as car drivers are at risk from level crossing abuse/misuse.

The advert can be viewed via the BBC iplayer here or downloaded (26.9MB) from the Network Rail Media Library here.