The next three months will see the completion of a €2.3m project to eliminate a level crossing in Meliana on line three of the Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) railway. Much of the highway work to enable closure of the Barranquat level crossing is already complete.

The abolition of level crossings on railway lines owned by FGV in the Valencia region was launched by the Government in 1996 with an investment exceeding €100 million to effect the removal of

130 level crossings. At the end of 2008, the programme is largely complete with 115 level crossings, about 90% of the total eliminated.

(December 30th, 2008)

Dreieich, Germany: Two escape serious injury

Two young men are lucky that they will be able to recount what happened when their car was hit by a train on December 28th, 2009. The event in question involved a regional passenger train and took place on the Darmstädter Landstraße level crossing in Dreieich, Germany.

Police have reported that the car driver was under the influence of alcohol and that he ignored the stop lights at the crossing having overtaken other vehicles waiting at the level crossing.

(December 29th, 2008)

Haydon Bridge, United Kingdom: Upgrade on the way

Work to replace the manually controlled gates at the level crossing on the B6319 at Haydon Bridge, Northumberland will begin on January 10th, 2009.

Network Rail, the national rail infrastructure manager is investing GB£1.2m to replace the gates with a modern barrier equivalent.

During the course of the work, Network Rail is installing temporary barriers and providing an attendant 24 hours a day until the new barriers come into use on January 26th, 2009.

(December 29th, 2008)

Source Ian Britton, www.freefoto.com

Three people were hospitalised after the taxi in which they were travelling was struck by a train on a level crossing near the town of Berkovitsa, Bulgaria. The accident occurred on December 26th, 2008.

(December 28th, 2008)

Vorkuta, Russia: Three injured in collision with a locomotive

A car was driven into the side of a locomotive resulting in three persons being seriously injured. The accident happened on an open level crossing in Vorkuta, Russia in the early evening of December 27th, 2008.

(December 28th, 2008)

Villajoyosa, Spain: Accident at crossing where barriers removed

Hulshorst, Netherlands

A Christmas Eve accident on a level crossing in Hulshorst, Netherlands left the motorist dead. The accident which happened in daylight saw a train strike a car on the Klarenweg level crossing which lies in a wooded area.

The level crossing can be viewed in context on Google Earth™ at coordinates 52° 21’ 08.54” N / 05° 44’ 01.12” E.

(December 24th, 2008)

Lowestoft, United Kingdom: Failure to use crossing correctly = fine

collision with the on-coming passenger train, magistrates fined the motorist, who was familiar with the level crossing in question, GB£230.

(December 24th, 2008)

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published its report into the pedestrian fatality which occurred on Moor Lane footpath level crossing in Staines, Surrey, United Kingdom which occurred on April 16th, 2008 (LXinfo December 2008).

The accident happened in daylight at about 08:10 in the morning when a passenger train travelling from London to Windsor and Eton struck and fatally injured a pedestrian.

The RAIB has concluded that the immediate cause of the accident was that the pedestrian fell to the ground on the crossing and was unable to avoid being struck by the approaching train. The causal factors sitting behind this accident have been identified as:

• The pedestrian did not stop, look and listen before stepping onto the crossing
• The surface of the crossing was slippery
• Network Rail had not added a non-slip surface to the crossing, although this had been considered by Railtrack in 1996 and requested by Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) in 2005.

Additionally, the following factors were identified as contributory:

• The angle, relative to the railway, of the south-eastern approach path and the crossing itself
• The relative quietness of the combination of a modern train and track recently re-laid with continuous welded rail (CWR)
• The level of background noise at the crossing.
  

Finally, the following underlying causes of the accident identified by the RAIB were:

• The risk assessment processes operated for footpath crossings by Railtrack and more recently by Network Rail did not identify the risk of slipping on a timber surface. As a result a non-slip surface was not provided at the crossing
• The difficulty of closing the level crossing, and its consequent continued availability to members of the public as a footpath.

The RAIB has made a number of recommendations relating to the provision of non-slip surfaces at footpath crossings; the operation of Network Rail’s computer system for managing maintenance activities; and, the guidance Network Rail provides to its staff who carry out the assessment and inspection of level crossings.

The full report can be accessed at:
http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/
investigation_reports/reports_2008/
report272008.cfm

Following publication of the RAIB report, the son of the woman who was killed said Network Rail was "arrogant" and "lacking integrity" adding that “they don’t even have the decency to hold their hands up” and admit their systems failed. The criticism arises because although Network Rail responded to a March 2005 request from Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate by logging the need for a non-slip surface in their work planning system; the works order was almost immediately closed as it was believed to have been raised in error.

(December 23rd & 31st, 2008)

United Kingdom: Interesting read for specialists and enthusiasts

Published in November and resisted for more than a month and then avidly consumed as a pre-Christmas read was a new volume from railway safety guru Stanley Hall entitled “Level crossings” with a strapline adding “the history, development and safety record of level crossings in Britain and Overseas”. Stanley Hall provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework within which level crossings have been or indeed, in some cases, not been managed over more than 150 years. If you need to know the significance of legislation enacted in 1863 or even earlier or much later this book is worth a read.

Equally, the book is worth reading as it provides readers with a one-stop shop as it considers the significance of accidents on Britain’s level crossings both recently and in more distant times. I might quibble with a few points, particularly the somewhat rose-tinted view of professional drivers which misses out their greater propensity to come unstuck on level crossings.

The whirlwind tour of level crossings around the world which concludes the book, written by Peter van der Mark, is a useful introduction to practice elsewhere which allows the reader to see British practice in a wider international context.

The book is profusely illustrated albeit more from an enthusiast's perspective than I personally find attractive. But, all in all, for GB£19.99 or less if ordered from Amazon, it was a good alternative to my usual bed-time fare of crime fiction!

The publisher is Ian Allan (www.ianallenpublishing.com) and the ISBN 978-0-7110-3308-5.

Aidan Nelson (December 23rd, 2008)

London, United Kingdom: “Another train coming” warnings

Publication of this project – T335 in the Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB) research catalogue – and its associated web based tool found at www.lxrmtk.com was reported in LXinfo’s December 2008 edition.

Already, Network Rail, Britain’s national rail infrastructure manager, is using the toolkit to support its review of higher-risk level crossings. Also, as the primary user of the tool, Network Rail has recently asked RSSB to update the input data to take account of the most recent safety performance at level crossings.

(December 23rd, 2008)

The latest stage in the saga of Chichester’s level crossings (LXinfo December 2008) is that Network Rail, the rail infrastructure manager has said that it will investigate delays to road traffic of 15 minutes or more to determine what, if anything can be done. But first, someone – probably the local council – has to tell Network Rail the date and time of the extended delays. Network Rail have also made clear that they do not see there being technical enhancements which would reduce delays.

Predictably, the leader of the local District Council has yet again highlighted the blight they see level crossings causing within the

community. So, it seems there are no new ideas from either the rail or highways authorities as to what might be done to change the configuration to induce less delay.

(December 22nd, 2008)

Novara, Italy: Pedestrian killed by freight train

A middle aged woman was killed when struck by a train on December 22nd, 2008 at a level crossing in Novarese between Gozzano and Orta Miasino on the rail route from Novara to Domodossola. Railway sources have said that the barriers were lowered and that the woman ducked under the barrier and

proceeded to cross into the path of the train. Suicide has not been ruled out.

(December 22nd, 2008)

The GB£90m project to upgrade the railway running through Frinton, Essex, United Kingdom has earned a black mark from Frinton’s Town Council.

The Town Council is disputing claims that the new road layout by the Frinton railway station level crossing is safer. Essex County Council has been responsible for moving a traffic roundabout further away from the level crossing in order that Network Rail, the national rail infrastructure manager, can secure approval of the rail safety regulator for a change in the way in which the level crossing is operated. The change in the way in which the level crossing is operated is from manned gates to a crossing with CCTV surveillance from a remote signalling centre.

Essex County Council remains committed to the scheme as there are substantial safety benefits alongside better traffic management and safer pedestrian routes. Given that the proposed scheme was subject to full consultation, it seems strange that the Town Council waits until the road works are nearly complete to argue that the scheme is ill-founded.

To view the crossing and associated road layout before the current highway reconstruction project on Google Earth™, go to coordinates 51° 50’ 15.67” N / 01° 14’ 41.17” E.

(December 22nd, 2008)

An early afternoon collision with a car on a rural level crossing in Riesbüllkoog, near Witzwort, Kreis Nordfriesland, Germany left a 70 year old motorist uninjured. The level crossing in question is on the Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB)

(December 21st, 2008)

Europe-wide: STOP Accidents! Europe for Safer Level Crossings

The European “Awareness Day at Level Crossings” task force has agreed that June 25th, 2009 will be the first level crossing awareness day to be organised on a pan-European basis. The key message for this event in 2009 is “STOP accidents! Europe for safer Level Crossings”; which will be linked to each of the national campaigns and initiatives of those organisations participating.

The European Level Crossing Forum (LXinfo December 2008) has established a working group chaired by Simon Fletcher of the UIC (International Union of Railways) which met on December 10th, 2008 with representation for road and rail sectors and the European Commission’s DG TREN. This group will be looking to get on-board as many partners for the awareness raising day as is possible. The idea is that each of the nationally based activities links its messages to the common European theme for the day. There will be a European brand identity and core messages for use by national partners.

The working group also offered UIC support for UIC signing the European Road Safety Charter on behalf of the rail sector to make clear there is rail support for reductions in road safety risk that will reduce road fatalities by 50%. Getting the road safety professionals and European institutions on-board with the June 25th, 2009 awareness day is an important step in getting the level crossing issue from being seen as rail’s alone to a shared road and rail objective.

The next meeting of the working group will be held on March 26th, 2009 in the Brussels office of UIC. Further information is available from Simon Fletcher at fletcher@uic.asso.fr

(December 19th, 2008)

Baarn, Netherlands: New crossing open to traffic

With urban development and considerations of the character of the area having ruled out grade separation, unusually the rail safety regulator, has approved the alteration of Torenlaan level crossing in Baarn, Netherlands, to allow the introduction of a third railway track.

The altered level crossing reopened to traffic on December 19th, 2008 after an eleven week closure in which the alignment of the highway has been changed to improve the approach to the crossing. As the level crossing is used by many students travelling to and from school, attention has been given to their needs as cyclists and pedestrians.

A freight train struck a vehicle on an open level crossing in Noblejas, Toledo, Spain injuring three people. The accident which happened in daylight on December 19th, 2008 occurred when the train struck the rear of the vehicle, knocking it clear of the railway.

(December 19th, 2008)

Congleton, United Kingdom: What could have been another Great Heck

A motorist left his vehicle which then ran away from him, through the railway boundary fence and onto the line in North Rode, near Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom. The vehicle was then hit by a train which derailed as another was approaching in the opposite direction. The accident, which occurred in the early evening of December 18th, 2008, led to a number of passengers being treated for minor injuries. Although the trains did not hit each other this accident serves as a salutary reminder of that which

Almen, Netherlands: Two cars collide on crossing, hit by train

A road traffic accident on a level crossing in Almen, Netherlands was bad enough, then the cars which had collided were hit by a train. The accident which occurred on December 19th, 2008 did not injure anyone as the car occupants were able to leave their vehicles before the train arrived.

(December 19th, 2008)

Scrooby, United Kingdom: Unexplained death at crossing

British Transport Police have reported finding a body at a user worked crossing at Scrooby, Near Doncaster, United Kingdom. The body was discovered in the late evening of December 17th, 2008 and the death is presently being treated as “unexplained”.

(December 18th, 2008)

Algeciras, Spain: Another level crossing to bite the dust

It has been confirmed that ADIF, the national rail infrastructure manager, is to tender for the works to eliminate a level crossing on La Cañada Sale, Algeciras, Spain. The value of the works is estimated at EU€1.26m.

ADIF envisages implementation beginning before the end of the first quarter in 2009.

(December 18th, 2008)

Parbold, United Kingdom: Non-suspicious death on crossing

A man died when he was hit by a train on Chapel Lane level crossing in Parbold, Lancashire, United Kingdom during the morning of December 18th, 2008. The British Transport Police have determined that the death should be treated as non-suspicious and are preparing a file for the coroner.

(December 18th, 2008)

Madrid, Spain: Economic regeneration includes level crossings

An order of December 9th, 2008 following agreement by the Council Of Ministers on December 5th, 2008 sets out the scope and sponsoring department for programmes covered by new legislation passed on November 28th, 2008 for the encouragement of economic development and creation of jobs in Spain.

It is pleasing to see that arrangements for closure and upgrading level crossings are supported to the tune of EU€38m.This fund will be managed by the Railways Directorate General.

(December 17th, 2008)

Welshpool, United Kingdom: Motorist told jail is on the cards

A motorist who admitted failing to comply with level crossing regulations and endangering the safety on the railway at Buttington, Powys, United Kingdom on September 10th, 2008 (LXinfo December 2008) has been told that he may be jailed. The similar case against a 15 year-old was dropped.

The offences arose because the motorist, having failed to wait for the signaller’s permission to cross, drove onto the crossing where it was struck by a passenger train. At a court hearing on

December 16th, 2008 the warning of a possible jail sentence was given by the Magistrate hearing the case when the case was adjourned to January 6th, 2009 for sentencing.

(December 17th, 2008)

Oulton Broad, United Kingdom: Changes to address blocking-back

Suffolk County Council has proposed road traffic management changes to reduce the risk of road traffic blocking back across the Oulton Broad North level crossing of Bridge Road, Oulton Broad, Suffolk, United Kingdom. The proposal will stop drivers turning into Commodore Road from A1117 Bridge Road. Additionally the turn restrictions will also ban right turns from Commodore Road on to the A1117 Bridge Road for other than emergency vehicles. To view this in context on Google Earth™, go to coordinates 52° 28’ 39.62” N / 01° 42’ 54.55” E.

By banning turns at this junction which is very close to the level crossing, the county council seeks to address the 14 injury accidents which have occurred at or near the junction in the past five years and the regular blocking-back of road traffic over the level crossing.

Currently, there are many motorists who prefer this route as the alternative is over a bascule bridge, often opened to allow boats to pass, particularly at weekends and in the summer boating season. The council proposes undertaking works to introduce the turn restriction in the spring of 2009.

Consultation on these changes closed on January 2nd, 2009

Meanwhile Lowestoft Magistrates have been busy dealing with offences committed on the Oulton Broad North level crossing.

• A woman who admitted driving over the level crossing when the lights were flashing on July 30th, 2008 was on December 8th, 2008 ordered to pay a GB£60 fine and the same again in costs plus a three penalty point licence endorsement
• December 5th, 2008 saw another motorist banned for driving for a year with a requirement for an extended test at the end of the ban, required to perform 260 hours of community service and to pay GB£60 costs for overtaking a queue of traffic before weaving round the barriers as they were closing. The Magistrate said that a custodial sentence would have been imposed, but for the defendant pleading guilty
• Three motorists were caught breaking the law at this level crossing in one week of August 2008
• 28 convictions were secured for offences at this level crossing in 2007

(December 17th, 2008)

Kyle, Ireland: Crossing keeper parks car on level crossing

An aggrieved resident crossing keeper parked her car on the level crossing at which she works in Kyle, County Tipperary, Ireland delaying trains.

The protest on December 16th, 2008 relates to a project to close the level crossing which would lead to the long-serving crossing keeper being redeployed or possibly made redundant and in her eyes losing her home too.

Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) reiterated that there is no risk of her losing her company house. The crossing keeper removed her car, allowing normal working to be resumed.

(December 17th, 2008)

Hellin & Cieza, Spain: Three level crossings eliminated

Three new bridges over the Cartagena – Chinchilla railway line in Spain opened to traffic on December 16th, 2008 to allow three level crossings to be eliminated. The three level crossings which have been closed are in the municipalities of Hellín, Albacete and Cieza, Murcia.

(December 16th, 2008)

Newcastle, United Kingdom: Metro debuts photo-enforcement

Tyne & Wear Metro has installed red-light safety cameras at its Callerton Parkway level crossing in Newcastle, United Kingdom to increase the pressure on motorists who risk their lives and those on the trains by driving through red “stop” lights and thus violating the law.

The safety cameras have been fitted at Callerton Parkway because it accounts for almost half of the 52 road traffic incidents at Metro’s five level crossings in the past year.

The images obtained from the cameras will be used by Northumbria Police to prosecute drivers who flout the law and run the red lights.

Tyne & Wear Metro has confirmed that there are no plans to install barriers at any of the active open level crossings on its system.  This is because a detailed review has concluded that enforcement cameras offer the most efficient and effective deterrent to vehicles crossing signals at danger. Northumbria Police and the Northumbria Safer Road Initiative both recognise the need for deterrent measures and the benefit of the cameras at the Callerton Parkway level crossing.

All five level crossings on Tyne & Wear Metro’s infrastructure have clear signs, lights and alarms to warn motorists that a train is approaching. In addition the road across the Callerton Parkway level crossing has substantial median strips installed. To see the level crossing in context on Google Earth™, go to 55° 01’ 41.73” N / 01° 42’ 14.28” W.

The red-light cameras installed at Callerton Parkway, which have a cost GB£60,000, have been approved by Britain’s Home Office for use on highways and at railway level crossings.  Using loops under the road, the cameras take two photographs for evidence.  Red-light jumping is an endorsable offence, carrying a minimum of three penalty points (twelve needed for disqualification and a GB£60 fine. 

Raymond King, Project Manager for the Northumbria Safer Roads Initiative:  “It is important that people recognise the danger of taking stupid risks, such as jumping red-light crossings.  We hope that the cameras will deter people from jumping red–lights and welcome using technology in new ways to improve safety on our roads.  Ultimately this is about ensuring everyone’s safety, whether a car user or someone using public transport”. 

Once the cameras are installed they will become the property of the Northumbria Safer Road Initiative, who will maintain them and process offences.

Although the number of collisions at Callerton Parkway remains low, the most recent happened in March 2007, the potential for a fatal accident is clearly present when red-lights are passed.

(December 15th, 2008)

Prague, Czech Republic: New railway, fewer level crossings

A major project to improve railway connections across Prague, Czech Republic has been completed and train services have since December 14th, 2008 been taking advantage of the new cross Prague links, construction of which began in the summer of 2004.

Motorists were among the early beneficiaries of the project as in December 2005 an overpass in Pod Plynojemem Street (Sluncová) was finished as a consequence of which the level crossing at Invalidovna was eliminated.

(December 15th, 2008)

Doncaster, United Kingdom: Pedestrian killed on CCTV crossing

A pedestrian was killed in daylight on Dock Hills level crossing on Ings lane in Bentley to the North of Doncaster on December 15th, 2008. British Transport Police have said that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fatality on the crossing which is monitored by CCTV.

Incidentally, this level crossing was included within the technical visit associated with the 8th International Level Crossing and Trespass Prevention Symposium held in April 2004.

(December 15th, 2008)

Grimsby, United Kingdom: Crown Court’s guilty verdict

The driver of a car towing a trailer on which there was a boat has been found guilty following his combination being struck by a passenger train on a passive level crossing on West Marsh Lane, Goxhill, North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. The conviction for

(December 15th, 2008)

Burgos, Spain: A city no longer divided

Citizens in Burgos have calculated that on average the 100 trains a day which passed through town caused each of the six level crossings to be closed for some 150 seconds. This, they say, resulted in the city being paralysed for four hours each day. Now, a thirty-year campaign has borne fruit with such delays consigned to history now that the railway has been rerouted to serve the city’s new station. Indeed, dismantling of the old line started in December 2008.

With the closing of the old line, those pedestrians who died when they sought to beat the train have been remembered with sorrow that it has taken so long to deliver the project.

(December 15th, 2008)

Durango, Spain: 27 level crossings to be eliminated by 2010

If ever there were a town divided by level crossings, it is Durango in the Basque region of Spain and that is the way it will be until 2010. Work on the major project to move the railway underground, complete with the town’s railway station has been underway since 2005.

Public transportation agency Euskal Trenbide Sarea (ETS) is driving the “Durango+” project that will move the railway below street level over a distance of some four kilometres.

This along with related works will by 2010 eliminate 27 level crossings which have hitherto paralysed Durango. In total, the cost of the publicly funded project is EU€183m.

(December 14th, 2008)

Birkdale, United Kingdom: Clowning around

A motorist dressed as a clown took a wrong turn at the Crescent Road level crossing in Birkdale, Southport, United Kingdom. The wrong turn in question saw the clown trying to drive along the railway electrified with a third rail system in early evening darkness on December 13th, 2008. It transpires that the middle-aged woman thought she was turning into Dover Road. It is thought that a slavish adherence to a satellite navigation system may be a significant causal factor. To view the level crossing and the road into which the clown intended to turn on Google Earth™, go to coordinates 53° 37’ 45.75” N / 03° 01’ 06.84” W.

At least, the clown had the presence of mind to vacate her car. Trains were stopped and there was no collision with the stranded car. Anyway, clown or no clown, British Transport Police have confirmed that the woman has been reported for notice of intended prosecution in respect of both her careless driving but also for endangering safety on and obstruction of the railway.

(December 13th and 15th, 2008)

Clown at Birkdale

Antwerp, Belgium: Simulation to enhance emergency response

Belgium has invested some EU€140k in a computer simulation to test and develop emergency response arrangements to a range of disasters including collisions on level crossings. The virtual training capability which is already in use in the Netherlands focuses on scenarios which are difficult to stage. Primary users of the system will be those in command of emergency services and

others with whom they need to engage to deliver a holistic response which in the case of a level crossing scenario would include rail authorities.

(December 12th, 2008)

Significant disruption to road traffic was the consequence of a lunchtime collision between a van and the level crossing on the High Street in Corsham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The accident, which was caused by the van driver seeking to beat the closing barriers, happened on December 11th, 2008 and did not cause injury to other than the van driver’s pride!

Estonia’s Operation Lifesaver secured air-time for a special public service announcement (PSA) over the Christmas period. The PSA featured Kaspar, an eight-year-old whose parents both work in the railway industry.

In Estonian, Kaspar reminds you to “Vaata, Kuula je ela!”; in other words “Look, Listen and Live!”, the rubric of the worldwide Operation Lifesaver movement.

To view the PSA, visit: http://www.operationlifesaver.eu/ee/en/?id=15186

(December 12th, 2008)

Münster, Germany: Long running dispute rumbles on

A dispute concerning the closure of the Oberen Münsterstraße level crossing in Castrop-Rauxel has reached the Higher Administrative Court in Münster. In short the rail infrastructure owner contests that there is a 1974 agreement which committed the city to constructing an underpass for pedestrians and cyclists to enable the level crossing to be closed. Since 2002, the railway has sought unsuccessfully to cause the town to honour the agreement.

Despite losing its case in a 2007 hearing in the Gelsenkirchen Administrative Court, the city is still contesting the validity of the 1974 agreement and the obligation placed on it to fund grade separation despite a substantial reduction in vehicular traffic using the level crossing from 2,500 to 1,200 vehicles per day. Given that the risk has been reduced, the city now argues that the expense of grade separation is no longer justified.

The retail businesses in the area either side of the level crossing are concerned that closure of the level crossing will hit trade. Accordingly, they too are in favour of the status quo. In contrast a representative of the Federal Ministry of Transport has come down in favour of closure.

To see the level crossing in context, go to coordinates 51° 33’ 00.05” N / 07° 18’ 36.76” E on Google Earth™.

(December 12th, 2008)

The High Street in Cosham, Hampshire, United Kingdom was closed to through traffic for several hours on December 11th, 2008 as a result of a van failing to stop for the level crossing. The lunchtime accident saw a barrier dislodged when the driver sought to beat the crossing closure sequence.

Buitenpost, Netherlands: Isn’t this the road?

A middle aged motorist turned her car onto the railway rather than the road in close proximity to the level crossing. The accident which happened in Buitenpost, Netherlands after dark on December 10th, 2008 was resolved without injury or damage as an approaching train was brought to a stand short of the obstruction.

(December 11th, 2008)

Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom: RAIB investigating independently

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an independent investigation into the fatal accident which occurred at Wraysholme, Flookburgh, near Grange-overSands, Cumbria on November 3rd, 2008.

As previously reported (LXinfo December 2008), the accident occurred when a passenger train struck a car on an active open level crossing with lights of the automatic open locally monitored (AOCL) type. The accident, which occurred in daylight, claimed the life of the car driver.

When announcing their independent investigation on December 9th, 2008, the RAIB said that their preliminary examination indicated that there were no issues with the condition or operation of the train that could have contributed to the accident.

(December 9th, 2008)

Wickede, Germany: Fatal accident on level crossing

A cyclist was killed when he was hit by a train in Wickede, near Dortmund, Germany. The accident happened on December 8th, 2008 in the vicinity of the Wickeder Straße and Warmener Weg level crossings. Supposition is that the cyclist circumvented the barriers at one of the active level crossings.

(December 9th, 2008)

Work to improve five level crossings in Rijen and Hulten is on the way. Prorail has confirmed that longer barriers are to be installed at Vincent van Goghstraat in Rijen and Broekdijk in Hulten to better protect cyclists and pedestrians. De Julianastraat and Oosterhoutseweg in Rijen will get barriers on cycle tracks and footpaths on both sides of the road. At present they are only installed to the right of the highway. These crossings will also get pavement markings warning of the crossing.

Improved lighting is also on the way at the Oosterhoutseweg level crossing. Visibility of the Eindsestraat level crossing in Hulten is also to be improved.

The work will be finished in March 2009.

(December 9th, 2008)

Utrecht, Nethelands: Carbon neutral level crossings

One of the entries in a competition organised by ProRail, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager, is for a carbon neutral level crossing. Although not one of the three finalists of the competition to find ideas to reduce the environmental impact of the railway, ProRail have indicated that this idea may yet bear fruit as they will further investigate the other ideas submitted.

(December 9th, 2008)

Ireland / Netherlands: Irish level crossing is a first for Vialis

Vialis, a division of Volker-Wessels has received a contract to supply Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) with a complete full barrier level crossing system.

(December 9th, 2008)

Erpeldange, Luxembourg: Pedestrian killed, suicide suspected

A man was killed on a level crossing near Erpeldange, Luxembourg  at lunchtime on December 7th, 2008 yesterday. Witnesses have said that the man dipped under the barrier, crossed the road and went under that barrier.

Then, when the train approached he passed under the barrier again and stood in the path of the train.

(December 8th, 2008)

Hegelsom, Netherlands: Vandals turn themselves in

Police in the North Limburg province of the Netherlands have been able to close the case of the vandalism at a level crossing in Hegelsom on July 1st, 2008. This proved possible as a result of the offenders two aged 18 and another 19 turning themselves in following television coverage of their crime. Why did they turn themselves in? Because, one of them recognised himself in the images shown in a television programme aired on December 7th, 2008.

The attack on the level crossing, last summer, damaged both the barriers and lighting installed at the crossing.

(December 8th, 2008)

Arkhangelsk Region, Russia: Three injured in collision with freight train

The level crossing in the village of Emtsa Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk Region, Russia witnessed a multi-injury accident when a car was hit by a freight train. The three occupants of the car were injured in the accident which occurred in the early morning of December 6th, 2008.

Reports have confirmed that the lights at the level crossing were working correctly at the time of the accident. Why the driver ran

the red light has not been established although rail authorities have said that all blame lies with the motorist.

(December 8th, 2008)

Kapelle, Netherlands: Woman and four year-old daughter killed

A mother and her four year-old daughter died when the car in which they were travelling was hit by a train on the Dijkwelsestraat – Dijkwelseweg level crossing in Kapelle, Netherlands. The accident happened on December 4th, 2008 when a train was delayed in the nearby station leaving the crossing closed to road for an extended period. It has been reported by unofficial sources that this delay was caused by an altercation between a passenger without a ticket and the train’s conductor.

Motorists were said to have waited some ten minutes before they started to weave around the barriers at which point an express train from Goes hit the woman’s car.

(December 6th, 2008)

Cullera, Spain: Woman and son evacuate their car in time

A woman and her son whose car became trapped on a level crossing in Cullera, Spain had the presence of mind to leave the car when it became clear that a train was approaching. The driver had entered the level crossing when it was safe. However, an approaching train activated the closing sequence which prompted the car’s occupants to leave the car before it was hit by a train.

(December 6th, 2008)

ADIF, Spain’s national rail infrastructure manager has tendered work to abolish six level crossings in Almargen. The estimated value of the works is €3.1m and the timeframe for the works 13 months. Five of the level crossings are private with the sixth being a public automatic half barrier crossing.

(December 6th, 2008)

ADIF, Spain’s national rail infrastructure manager is seeking tenders for the removal of a level crossing in Cartagena. The project has a budget of more than €3.5m. The crossing in question is on the road to Cabo de Palos a Albujón and it should be gone within eighteen months.

It is of note that 1,931 level crossings will have been eliminated from Spain’s railways betwwn 2005 and 2012.

(December 4th, 2008)

Zalla, Spain: FEVE takes on another level crossing project

The municipality of Zalla, Spain, had 37 level crossings on the FEVE rail system. Six of them, in rural areas, were eliminated in 2008. Now, work is in hand to upgrade one of the seven level crossings in the urban areas of the community. This project will address the level crossing in Nicolás María Urgoiti street in the Aranguren area of town and is scheduled for completion in April 2009.

(December 4th, 2008)

FEVE level crossing

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an independent investigation into the fatal accident which occurred at at Bayles and Wylies footpath crossing, Bestwood Park, Nottinghamshire on November 22nd, 2008.

As previously reported (LXinfo December 2008), the accident occurred when a passenger train struck and killed a woman and a child who were traversing the passive public footpath level crossing. The accident which occurred in darkness, early evening, was on a crossing traversing both Network Rail infrastructure (where the accident occurred) and that of the light rapid transit operator which runs parallel. The level crossing which has a dog-leg as it crosses Network Rail’s infrastructure is gated and equipped with warning signs. To view the level crossing in context on Google Earth™, the coordinates are 53°01’ 07.91” N / 1° 11’ 12.68” W.

When announcing their independent investigation on December 3rd, 2008, the RAIB said that their preliminary examination indicated that there were no issues with the condition or operation of the signalling system, or the operation of the train that could have contributed to the accident.

(December 3rd, 2008)

Bridgetown, Ireland: Train ploughs through crossing gate

A railway engineer’s train ploughed through the crossing gates on a manually operated level crossing in Bridgetown, Wexford, Ireland. The accident which happened in daylight on December 2nd 2008 hurt nobody but has prompted parallel investigations by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) and the independent accident investigation arm of the Railway Safety Commission.

It has been reported that the crossing keeper was, for reasons unknown, unable to close the gates to road traffic before the arrival of the ballast train.

(December 3rd, 2008)

Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium: An expensive hot meal

A motorist who explained that he had ignored a level crossing stop light because he was in a hurry to get at a hot meal on the table has paid dearly for putting his stomach first. Magistrates handed the man a €1,385 fine and fifteen days driving ban.

Horsham, United Kingdom: Accident beyond the crossing

Two people were seriously injured when the car in which they were travelling crashed into a car parked close to the Littlehaven level crossing on Ruspar Road in Horsham, Wst Sussex.

Sussex Police have said that the accident occurred when the driver lost control of his vehicle and appealed for witnesses to the accident which occurred at approximately 22.15 on November 29th, 2008.

This accident brings into focus for consideration of highway safety at level crossings to also consider other accidents and the potential for such accidents near level crossings in order that an holistic approach is taken.

(December 1st, 2008)