Latest news with #levelcrossing
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Train crash investigation finds tractor driver asked for permission to cross before 80mph collision
An investigation into a crash between a farm trailer and a train moving at 80mph in Herefordshire found that the driver of the trailer reached out for permission to cross the tracks at the level crossing ahead of the collision. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), an independent agency that works with the Department for Transport, has released its initial findings on what happened during the crash. The incident involved a Transport for Wales train, which was operating a passenger service from Manchester to Cardiff on 22 May, when it drove into an agricultural trailer that was crossing the tracks. The collision occurred at around 10.37am while the train was passing near Leominster, Herefordshire. The train was travelling at 80mph at the time it collided with the trailer, which was being hauled over the Nordan Farm level crossing by a tractor. In its initial report, RAIB said that the driver of the tractor involved in the accident had telephoned the signaller before using the crossing. Nordan Farm's crossing is fitted with telephones, which people are directed to use to obtain permission from the signaller before opening the crossing gates and heading over the railway. Despite using the telephone, the trailer was smashed into by an oncoming train. Fortunately, the tractor driver was not injured. In the aftermath of the collision, the trailer had parted from the tractor and became wedged on the front of the train, yet the train ran for around 500 metres under braking before it came to a standstill. The train did not derail, but its leading vehicle and some of the front passenger coaches suffered damage. There was also damage to the struck trailer, lineside equipment and a second level crossing located beyond Nordan Farm. There were 66 passengers and eight staff on board at the time, and six passengers were treated for minor injuries. Two of the people who were injured were taken to hospital and later discharged. Passenger Morgan Shake described hearing a "really loud bang" as the train hit the trailer. "The train just stopped moving, there was just debris everywhere," she told BBC News. "Not many people knew what was going on," added fellow passenger Sophie Hughen. "But thankfully, no one was severely injured at all, so that was really good." RAIB will continue to investigate the sequence of events that led to the accident. It will look into the actions of those involved and any factors that may have influenced them. It will also look into any previous incidents at the Nordan Farm crossing, as well as the management of risk at this crossing and Network Rail's wider strategy for mitigating risks. The rail network faced disruption for more than 24 hours after the crash, with the line blocked between Hereford and Shrewsbury. British Transport Police arrested a 32-year-old man who was released under investigation. The crash report follows another investigation by RAIB involving two Transport for Wales services that collided with each other in October. Four faults were detected in one of the train's safety systems. The incident resulted in the death of one man, and 23 people were also injured.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Garda cameras planned for railway level crossings, with automatic fines and penalty points
There have been 30 railway level-crossing incidents so far this year, with 11 resulting in injuries or damage to the crossings, according to Iarnród Éireann . It says Garda safety cameras will be introduced at crossings, resulting in possible fines and penalty points for motorists. The data was published on International Level Crossing Awareness day (ILCAD), an initiative of the International Union of Railways (UIC) of which Iarnród Éireann is a member. An Garda Síochána plans to introduce up to six Go Safe safety cameras at railway level crossings. READ MORE The cameras will record motorists using the crossing and will automatically issue a fine of €160 in respect of speeding, or €80 in respect of breaking a red light. Motorists will be liable for three penalty points for either. The most frequent locations involved in level crossing incidents are in counties Dublin and Wicklow – Serpentine Avenue in Ballsbridge (five incidents), Sutton (three incidents) and Bray, Claremont, Coolmine and Sandymount (two incidents at each). The majority of level crossing incidents involve vehicles striking crossing gates or barriers, resulting in damage. There are currently 861 level crossings on the Iarnród Éireann network, and these are a combination of automated CCTV crossings, manned crossings and unmanned user-operated accommodation crossings. Iarnród Éireann has closed 134 crossings between 2014 and June 2025, and the company says it is working to eliminate as many level crossings as practicable. Iarnród Éireann chief executive Jim Meade said: 'I welcome the forthcoming roll out of Go Safe cameras at our level crossings. Driver behaviour is becoming more and more problematic at level crossings and I believe these measures will result in improved safety for all, protecting rail and road users alike.' Almost 300 people die at level crossings across Europe every year and level-crossing incidents account for 1 per cent of road deaths in Europe, and 31 per cent of all rail fatalities. Ireland's record remains stronger than the European average, with no level crossing fatalities since 2010.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bicester East West Rail level crossing petition to be presented
A petition calling for a fully accessible underpass at a town's level crossing will be presented to Parliament on 4,526 signatures, it calls on the government to ensure any replacement of the level crossing at London Road in Bicester includes access for cars, not just cyclists and crossing is set to be closed on safety grounds when the East West Rail (EWR) line becomes fully operational but residents fear this will see the town "cut in two."EWR said it was looking into "all the potential solutions" and that it would present a final proposal to the public. The new EWR service will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge and is due to be opened to passengers in the early Bicester residents are worried it will cut one side of the town off from the other. Petition creator Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, has previously warned of residents' a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves last October, he said: "There is support for the new rail line but also a belief that its opening should not unfairly affect one town. They do not want to see Bicester cut in two."In the most recent consultation, which received more than 6,000 responses and closed in January, EWR had proposed a new footbridge or underpass for pedestrians and a letter from chief executive David Hughes later suggested the plans were under a meeting with Mr Miller and Baron Peter Hendy, the Minister for Rail, on 7 April, Mr Hughes wrote that "further work" had been undertaken as a result of said: "I can confirm that since our meeting we have held discussions with both Network Rail and the local council to understand the feasibility of developing the design to incorporate some form of vehicular access."Mr Miller previously told BBC Radio Oxford it would be "very hard" to put a bridge in place.A spokesperson for East West Railway Company said: "We welcome the public's continued interest in this important issue and continue to assess all the potential solutions for the London Road Level Crossing."Whilst this work is being carried out, we are working closely with our local stakeholders including Calum Miller MP and the local councils."Once all the analysis has been completed a final proposal will be published and presented to the public."The petition, which contains physical signatures only, will be presented by Mr Miller at 19:00 BST.A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We recognise the strong views felt locally in Bicester and East West Rail Company is carefully reviewing responses to its consultation."Options for the future of the London Road level crossing are still being considered, but any option will need to balance cost with the impact on the community." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bicester level crossing petition supported by thousands
A petition calling for a fully accessible underpass at a town's level crossing has received more than 3,000 by MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller, the petition calls on the government to ensure any replacement of the level crossing at London Road in Bicester includes access for cars, not just cyclists and is set to be closed on safety grounds when the East West Rail (EWR) line becomes fully operational, which many fear would cut off crucial access to thousands of residents. Mr Miller will present the petition, which can only be signed in person, in Parliament on 3 June. In the most recent consultation, which received more than 6,000 responses and closed in January, EWR had proposed a new footbridge or underpass for pedestrians and a letter from CEO David Hughes later suggested the plans were under a meeting with Mr Miller and Baron Peter Hendy, the Minister for Rail, on 7 April, Mr Hughes wrote that "further work" had been undertaken as a result of said: "I can confirm that since our meeting we have held discussions with both Network Rail and the local council to understand the feasibility of developing the design to incorporate some form of vehicular access."Mr Miller previously told BBC Radio Oxford it would be "very hard" to put a bridge in office said that in addition to the thousands of signatures it had gathered across Bicester, community volunteers had also taken it door-to-door in areas such as Miller, who launched the petition a few weeks ago, said the amount of collected signatures "in a very short period of time demonstrates just how strongly people feel about it"."East West Rail is a project of national significance – but it must not come at the cost of existing residents in our town," he said."The impact of cutting off this crucial artery would be a disaster for Bicester, no one wants the town cut in two."He said the petition was "a way of highlighting the issue" and said he would continue to press the government and EWR "to commit to deliver the solution that Bicester people want to see".The Department for Transport has been approached for comment. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Leominster rail line stays shut after train hits tractor trailer
A rail line is to remain closed after a train hit a tractor and trailer on a level crossing in Herefordshire. A 32-year-old man was arrested following the crash involving a Transport for Wales (TfW) train near Leominster in Herefordshire, on Thursday morning. Two people were taken to hospital following the crash suffering minor injuries, said British Transport Police (BTP).The line between Hereford and Shrewsbury is expected to remain closed throughout Friday. A joint statement from TfW and Network Rail said work was under way to reopen the line and restore services "as quickly as possible"."Replacement road transport remains in place between Hereford and Shrewsbury and tickets will also be valid for use with other operators via all reasonable alternative routes as well as with Stagecoach bus," the statement said. A further update is expected at about midday on Friday. Morgan Shake was among 56 passengers on board the 08:30 train from Manchester Picadilly heading to Cardiff when the crash happened at about 10:40 GMT. She described hearing a "really loud bang" as the train hit the trailer on land at Nordan Farm. "The train just stopped moving, there was just debris everywhere," she said. "Not many people knew what was going on," added fellow passenger Sophie Hughen."But thankfully no one was severely injured at all so that was really good." A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said a team of inspectors was at the site, gathering Midlands Ambulance Service said one man was airlifted to hospital in Hereford, and a woman was taken to the hospital by road. Fifteen other people were checked over and discharged at the scene. The tractor driver was uninjured, the ambulance service added. The level crossing takes a farm track across the railway tracks and is only used by agricultural facility is a user-worked crossing - in these cases, when a railway crosses private land, the owner of the land, working with a signaller, is responsible for opening and closing the gates. Last month, investigators found several faults in a safety system on a TfW train after a fatal crash in October trains - the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth service and the Machynlleth to Shrewsbury service - were travelling in opposite directions on a single line and were meant to pass on an extra section of line but the braking system man, 66, died and four other passengers were seriously RAIB's investigation into the 2024 crash continues and a final report will be published at a later date. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
