INCIDENT: West Lodge UWC-T, Haltwhistle, Northumberland 22nd January 2008

A man has been killed by a freight train on an user-worked crossing in Northumberland.

Christopher Walton, 17, of Haltwhistle was struck as he was delivering coal. The RAIB has begun an investigation.

Carlisle News and Star: http://tinyurl.com/3e22bf http://tinyurl.com/259n9f
RAIB http://tinyurl.com/yqh8vc

INCIDENT: Melrose Avenue UWC+T, 21st January 2008

A pedestrian has been killed whilst crossing a line at Hoylake close to the scene of a fatal accident last year.

Clive Hanlon, 52, was hit by a West Kirby service on a user worked crossing with telephone at Melrose Avenue. No injuries were reported on the train, which did not derail.

Further down the line is a similar crossing at Sandringham Avenue where a woman was struck and killed last year.

The user worked crossings on the line have a history of misuse, including motorists failing to call for crossing clearance.

Liverpool Echo: story here
Liverpool Echo: forum comment here
Wirral News: story here

Photograph (c) Liverpool Echo

INCIDENT: Whitemoss AHB, 05/01/08

A lorry crashed through an automatic half barrier and was in collision with a locomotive on the line between Gleneagles and Perth. The driver and passenger of the lorry were unhurt whilst the loco driver was slightly injured and taken to Perth Royal Infirmary.

The potato lorry is said to have slid on ice down the hill on the approach to the crossing and was unable to move away before the Direct Rail Services locomotive collided with the lorry's trailer.

Shortly before, a passenger train had passed over the crossing and a sleeper train was due over within minutes.

APPEAL: Moulinearn 2001

A woman has lost her appeal to have Network Rail made partially responsible for an accident that resulted in the death of her boyfriend.

Jane Rogerson was the driver of a car that collided with a train at Moulinearn in 2001. The crossing is of unusual design, with barriers operated by vehicle drivers via a push button system. The court heard how Miss Rogerson lifted the barrier and drive across the crossing despite red lights flashing and a klaxon sounding. The car was struck by an Inverness-bound train, killing her partner and seriously injuring a child in the back of the car.

Miss Rogerson had argued that Network Rail - formerly Railtrack - should be partly to blame for the accident (and should pay part of the damages awarded to the child's parents) due to the design of the crossing; in particualr, that the barriers could be lifted by the driver against an oncoming train.

But the appeal judges disagreed, maintaining the accident was her fault because she had not been paying proper attention when she lifted the barrier and drove onto the train track.

Photo - www.thecourier.co.uk