INCIDENT: Cornton AHB 26/10/09

A bus collided with a barrier at an automatic half-barrier crossing in Stirlingshire.

The First Bus service 54 to Bridge of Allan was on the crossing but clear of the rails when it was struck by a descending barrier. No injuries were reported on the bus. Witnesses said that the bus was able to reverse away from underneath the barrier.

Network Rail reported that both the warning lights and barriers were working properly and claimed that the bus failed to stop at the lights.

British Transport Police say that a 61-year-old man will be the subject of a report to the local procurator fiscal in connection with a number of alleged road traffic act offences.

AWARENESS: Wareham

Police supervision is to be increased at an abused crossing under threat of closure.

Following a review of CCTV evidence at Wareham crossing in Dorset, the Office of Rail Regulation has urged Network Rail and the county council to take immediate action to reduce the high risk of fatality.

Dorset County Council, along with British Transport Police and Network Rail, has agreed to increase police supervision of the crossing to make sure people use it properly.

The Office of Rail Regulation commented that if any further abuse takes place it will use its powers to require immediate closure of the crossing.

Photo (c) Peter Elsdon at Geograph

INCIDENT: Halkirk AOCL, Caithness 29.09.09

Three people died when their vehicle was struck by a passenger train on an automatic open crossing in Caithness.

Angus MacKay (81), his wife Margaret MacKay (81) and his brother Donald MacKay (66) died when their car was hit on the Halkirk Bridge Street crossing by the 1038 service from Inverness to Wick. No casualties were reported on the train, which did not derail.

A Network Rail spokesman said that an initial investigation showed there was "nothing to suggest that the crossing was not functioning correctly at the time of the collision". The Rail Accident Investigation Board is carrying out an investigation into the incident.

Comment; With AOCLs accounting for only 2% of Network Rail’s crossings, but 31% of all road-rail collisions in the last ten years - including several multiple fatalities - the feasibility of such crossings maintaining their maximum line speed of 55mph ought to be called into question.

BBC News: http://bit.ly/3WwHUf

Photo (c) John Baikie, as reproduced on the BBC website