Level Crossings

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18816246
whilst the cause of this incident has yet to be determined, it is the case that most incidents of this type are precipitated by errors made by road users. indeed yesterday alone, there were 3 instances of crossing barriers being struck and demolished by road vehicles, at Tilbury, Hessle (humberside) and Oakham.

clearly the road-going public cannot be trusted to behave at level crosings. So should it be incumbent on Nwtwork Rail to protect drivers from themselves?

[jno]

how does a user-operated gate work? Is it normally closed, so drivers have to open it when they want to cross, and close it again after them? I think you'd have to know more details before you could be sure if the car driver was careless or the crossing itself was unsafe.

[Huderon]

At user-operated gates, the gates are closed all the time, but lights are there as well. The idea is that you, as the user, check if the lights are green, exit the car and open the gates, check if the lights are still green and if they are, cross, exit the car and close the gates again.

[jno]

assuming everything is in working order, then, I don't see that Network Rail can be expected to do much more.

[TWR]

Driver error, no question.

[mushroom25]

//I don't see that Network Rail can be expected to do much more. //

well, what about imposing a speed limit on trains at level crossings?

[TWR]

If the crossings are marked / gated/ signed up, motorist cannot expect Network Rail to hold their hands as they use the thing, Driver error, no excuse.

[boxtops]

No, you can't ask trains to keep slowing down and speeding up. Crossings are dangerous - drivers are told that, and should act accordingly.

[mushroom25]

drivers are told crossings are dangerous. drivers are routinely prosecuted for mis-use. mis-use often leads to destruction of drivers' vehicles. occasionally drivers - and others - may suffer seerious injury.

and yet nothing changes, these incidents go on happening. how can it be acceptable to just say tut-tut and let the situation persist?

[pdq1]

Unmanned level crossings are a relic of past generations. On high speed lines like these they should be closed completely and the driver diverted to a manned one or one with automatic gates.

[jno]

what would a speed limit do? Mean that a car was hit at 40mph instead of 80? It might just about be safe if they slowed to 15mph or so; but journeys would take all day.

Car drivers are always supposed to check the way ahead is clear. Level crossings are no different. If you choose to open a closed gate, ignore a red light, and drive onto a railway line, you can't blame Network Rail for what happens next.

[MoonRocker]

we have a saying in IT, "Nothing is idiot proof" that's because they are always making better and better idiots! I think there is a parallel here, if an N hundred ton train does not induce care then this is natural selection at work!

[askyourgran]

Most level crossings now have warning lights and sounds before the barrier falls when a train is due, there are still a few unmanned crossings in rural areas. You would have thought that people would realise by now that these crossing areas are dangerous. Now that high speed trains are here I would have thought NetworkRail would make sure that the railway lines are safeguarded.

[bednobs]

what do people mean by unmanned? i dont think ive ever seen a manned level crossing

[askyourgran]

Usually there are crossings with the signal box alongside (manned). In some of our rural areas there are crossings without the signal box and barriers.

[bednobs]

oh i guess i must be in a rural area then. i live by the railway and out of all the crossings nearby, none are manned. some only have 1/2 barriers.

[ELVIS68]

Been there today, it's a metal gate on a private road, most probably driver error, you can see for miles either way, red lights and sirens alert drivers when trains are coming.