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Nakano, Japan: Youth killed on passive level crossing
A fifteen year-old was killed when he cycled into the path of a train on Motogi Hazime passive level crossing in Nakano, Japan on December 28th, 2008. The level crossing in question is some two metres wide and open solely to two wheeled traffic and pedestrians.		(December 31st, 2008)

Novosibirsk, Russia: Bus driver jailed for five years
A bus driver implicated in a level crossing accident in which four of his passengers died on July 14th, 2007 has been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. The accident happened when the level crossing stop lights were ignored.		(December 29th, 2008)

Kurana, Sri Lanka: Family of five wiped out
Five members of the same family were killed in a December 26th, 2008 collision on an active level crossing at Kurana, Katunyake, Sri Lanka. Police sources have said that the driver of the car ignored the stop signal and proceeded to cross into the path of the train.		(December 27th, 2008)

Manora, North Dinajpur, India: Crossing claims further victims
An unmanned level crossing with an accident history in Manora, North Dinajpur, India claimed two lives and injured a third on December 16th, 2008. Although the accident is believed to have happened after dark, it is not known for certain as the identity of the train involved had not been established.		(December 18th, 2008)

Kasukabe, Japan: Rescue attempt leaves two women dead
When a reportedly senile 93 year-old woman strayed 200 metres from her home onto a level crossing in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan; her 65 year-old daughter went to escort her mother to safety. However, before this was achieved, both women were struck and killed by a train travelling on the Noda Line of the Tobu Railway. The accident happened in the afternoon of December 15th, 2008.		(December 17th, 2008)

Mangalore, India: Campaigners frustrated by distant rail officials

Campaigners who have been pursuing grade separation of bust level crossings for nearly 40 years are frustrated that the absence of senior railway mangagers locally is a barrier to their campaign. Meanwhile, the level crossings in Padil is reported as remaining closed to road traffic for up to 30 minutes at a time because of the frequent train service.

The campaigners are incensed that everything is referred to the railway’s divisional office located more than 200kms away and that correspondence disappears into a seemingly black hole.

(December 17th, 2008)

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bus passengers avoid injury in collision

A bus with more than 30 passengers and a car were hit by a train on the Moghbazaar level crossing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with all on the bus and in the car unhurt. This was a result of quick thinking and a decision to evacuate the road vehicles as the train approached.

The accident which happened in the early evening of December 15th, 2008, occurring when the two road vehicles couldn’t exit the level crossing because of traffic congestion ahead.

There are reports that the vehicles entered the crossing after the audible warning sounded but before the barriers closed off the road.

(December 17th, 2008)

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: level crossing upgraded

The national body responsible for railway infrastructure has announced completion of an upgrade to the level crossing on Auezov Street to significantly reduce the potential for road vehicles to circumvent the barriers following on from a recent upgrade to the level crossing on Nekrasov Street.

The latest upgrades should prevent the types of accident that claimed two lives in Bishkek on December 2nd, 2008.

(December 12th, 2008)

Madipalli, India: School bus hit, fifteen injured

A private school bus was hit by an express passenger train on December 6th, 2008 on a manned level crossing. Fifteen persons were injured, including five seriously, when the Bhagyanagar Express train hit a private school van. The accident occurred at a manned level crossing in Jammikunta, near Madipalli, Andhra

Pradesh, India as the students were returning from evening classes.

(December 11th, 2008)

Gaborone, Botswana: Level crossing scenario for joint exercise

Botswana Railways has announced that it is conducting joint exercises with South Africa’s Transnet, operator of infrastructure as successor to Spoornet and the national operator of rail freight services. A recent recent multi-agency exercise was at the level crossing located between the Botswanan border post and that of South Africa at Ramatlabama.

The Botswana Railways press release stresses the importance of sharing knowledge, skills and expertise between the two rail authorities as they relate to disaster and crisis management and to satisfy the requirements of the Railway Safety Regulator of South Africa.

(December 11th, 2008)

Chennai, India: Grade separation projects under way

In announcing the year end opening of a flyover to ease traffic congestion in the city, an update on a number of grade separation projects has been provided.

Firstly, an over-bridge will see the end of the Rangarajapuram level crossing in December 2009 at an estimated cost of Rs 15.75 crore (GB£2.1m).

Additionally, construction of a flyover in place of the Kathivakkam High Road – Cocraine Basin Road level crossing at a cost of Rs 12.20 crore (GB£1.63m) and highway underpasses to eliminate Villivakkam and Korukkupet level crossings at a cost of Rs 13.4 crore (GB£1.79m)and Rs 6.28 crore (GB£837k) respectively.

(December 10th, 2008)

Pune, India: Solar power to the fore
Frequent power cuts, some of them of long duration are driving an increased use of solar power at level crossings on the Pune Division of India’s Central Railway. Solar panels to power LED signals and lighting are to be installed at level crossings between Ghorpadi and Miraj.		This is an extension of the now established use of solar power at some of the level crossings between Pune and Lonavla. (December 10th, 2008)

Sonepat, India: Two pedestrians killed
Two pedestrians were killed when they were hit by a train on a level crossing in Sonepat, Haryana, India on December 5th, 2008.		(December 7th, 2008)

Ena, Japan: Five injured in collision with truck
Five people were injured when a tourist train collided with a truck on the Myochi level crossing in Ena, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Four of those on the train received minor injuries in the accident which happened at midday on December 4th, 2008.		(December 4th, 2008)

Chigasaki, Japan: Fatal accident kills photographer
A middle aged man down by the railway to take photographs of trains was killed in Chigasaki, Japan on November 25th, 2008. The circumstances surrounding the accident appear to be that the man set up a tripod at the level crossing in the Akamatsu district and that this then fell over distracting the photographer who was then hit by a freight train.		(December 4th, 2008)

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Collision with freight train kills two
Two people died when the car in which they were travelling was hit by a freight train in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan late afternoon on December 2nd, 2008. The accident was at a passive level crossing at which the car driver failed to stop as required. In addition to the fatalities a further person was seriously injured. It has been reported that alcohol may have been a factor in this accident.		(December 3rd, 2008)