NEAR MISS: Llanbadarn ABCL, Wales 21.10.08

The Rail Accident Investigation Board is examining how a passenger train passed over a crossing where the barriers were raised, nearly colliding with a gas tanker.

A Birmingham to Aberystwyth train allegedly passed a red signal light before Llanbadarn ABCL crossing. The crossing was open to road and pedestrian traffic as maitenance work was being carried out at the crossing. A man pushing a pram over the crossing saw the approaching Sprinter train and pulled the pram to safety. Moments later, a gas tanker lorry avoided colliding with the train which had been braking heavily and stopped with its rear unit on the crossing.

There were no reported injuries or damage caused.

A preliminary RAIB examination gave no indication that the condition of the infrastructure, or the driving of the road vehicles, contributed to the accident. They will carry out a full investigation with particular reference to the human factors involved in the operation of this crossing.

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RAIB: http://bit.ly/jKvVI
Daily Post: http://bit.ly/mhzq

Photo (c) OLU at geograph.org.uk

INCIDENT: Sandhill AHB, Cambridgeshire 18.10.08

A passenger train struck a car on a Cambridgeshire crossing. The London Kings Cross to King's Lynn train, travelling at close to sixty miles an hour, struck the back of the car on the Sandhill AHB crossing near Littleport.

Reports suggest that the driver may have attempted to zig-zag around the barriers. He was taken to hospital where his injuries have been described as 'non life-threatening'. No injuries were reported on the train, which did not derail.

Customers at the Black Horse Pub nearby rushed out to try to help the driver but could not prevent the car from being struck. Some allege that there had been a signal failure at the crossing.

The RAIB said it was not planning to investigate the case.

Photo (c) Robert Edwards on Geograph

BBC News: http://tinyurl.com/54sjul
Ely Standard: http://tinyurl.com/5lx3fv

INCIDENT: Corpach AOC, Scotland 17.10.08

A van collided with a passenger train at Corpach Basin automatic open crossing near Fort William, Scotland.

The driver, Peter Donald, escaped injury when the 1010 Mallaig-Crianlarich train struck the van at approximately 10mph. No injuries were reported on the train, which did not derail.

BBC News: http://bit.ly/ZprL
Oban Times: http://bit.ly/pqcz

Photo (c) Francoise Poncelet at Geograph