INCIDENT: Fairbourne AOCL, Gwynedd 14.05.09 and 27.06.09

Two collisions in six weeks occurred at an automatic open crossing next to a station in Wales.

In the first incident on 14th May, a motorist said she was "distracted", ignoring the red light at the Fairbourne crossing and striking a Machynlleth to Pwllheli passenger service. No injuries resulted and the train did not derail. The motorist, Eileen Lawrence, 72, later admitted careless driving and was fined £40 with three penalty points, with £80 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Weeks later in June, another motorist was involved in a collision at the crossing which resulted in her vehicle being pushed onto the station platform. She was airlifted to hospital; no injuries were reported on the train which did not derail. The driver of the Machynlleth to Pwllheli service was also involved in the May incident.

A similar incident at the crossing occurred in 2003. The formal inquiry into that incident recommended that the crossing be upgraded to automatic half-barrier; residents of Fairbourne continue to campaign for such work to be carried out.

Photo (c) SMJ on geograph.org.uk