INCIDENT: Callerton Parkway AOC, Newcastle 24/03/07

A car was struck by a Tyne & Wear Metro train at Callerton Park AOC near Newcastle.

Reports suggest that the car braked suddenly as it approached the lights-only crossing. A Metro train that had just left the station struck the car. No injuries to the occupants of either vehicle were reported.












Photo: Newcastle Journal

Newcastle Journal: http://tinyurl.com/2ue3d6
icNewcastle: http://tinyurl.com/2of4vo
BBC News: http://tinyurl.com/2m86p5

CLOSURE: Tipton, Owen Street CCTV

The Department of Transport has announced that a tunnel is to be built under the West Coast Main Line at Tipton, allowing the Owen Street MCB crossing to close.

One of the busiest in the country, Owen Street is reported to be closed for up to forty minutes during a peak hour.













Photo: Andrew Doherty

Express and Star: http://tinyurl.com/3cmjeu

UPDATE: Dingwall

A driving instructor has claimed that a train passed over an automatic open crossing at Dingwall when no warning lights were in operation.

Brian Campbell, of the Maryburgh School of Motoring, is reported as saying that, whilst conducting a driving lesson, he witnessed the apparent 'malfunction'. A car had already stopped ahead of them at the crossing.

Mr Campbell immediately reported the incident to the police. Network Rail denied such a malfunction could happen and reported that the 'black box' from the crossing indicated that the lights had operated correctly.

Highland News: http://tinyurl.com/33e2th

PROSECUTION: Wyke Cop

A driver who stopped on a level crossing and was hit by an oncoming train has been jailed for six months.

Richard Yates pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to dangerous driving and failing to report an accident. As well as the prison sentence, he was banned from driving for two years.

No-one was injured when the Manchester Airport - Southport train collided with the car in May 2006.

ABUSE: Carnaby

Locals allege that this notorious crossing may not be functioning correctly.

Bridlington Today: http://tinyurl.com/2okesw

ABUSE: Pinchbeck AHB, Peterborough.

A local news photographer waiting at the Pinchbeck automatic half-barrier crossing near Peterborough took these pictures of vehicles zig-zagging the barriers.

An oncoming car slalomed around first...













...then a taxi overtook the photographer and crossed against the barriers and lights.











Reports suggest that the crossing may have been at a failed state for some time. It is not known whether the photos have been passed to the police.

Photo's: Alan Storer, Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Peterborough Evening Telegraph: http://tinyurl.com/ytxrgf

INCIDENT: Swainsthorpe AHB, 01/03/07

A car was struck by an express train at Swainsthorpe level crossing, Norfolk.

The 0622 Colchester-Norwich service hit a Vauxhall Astra, killing the car driver. No injuries were reported on the train, which did not derail.

Eyewitness reports suggest that the driver got out of the car immediately before the collision.

Local residents have called for improvements to be made to the crossing. It was the scene of a fatal incident in 2005 when a car was deliberately driven onto the crossing and parked across the line in front of an oncoming train.











Photo: BBC News

BBC News: http://tinyurl.com/2kohct
Eastern Daily Press: http://tinyurl.com/yweswt
Eastern Daily Press: http://tinyurl.com/36h3ay