Toprakkale, Turkey: Tractor and trailer wiped out, four dead

A collision with a train on a level crossing in Osmaniye, Toprakkale, killed four people and injured a further ten agricultural workers who were riding on an agricultural tractor and trailer.

(June 1st, 2010)

Seeduwa, Sri Lanka: Two young men killed on level crossing

Two young men died when they were hit by a train on the Averiwatte passive level crossing in Seeduwa. The accident happened during the morning of May 28th, 2010.

(May 29th, 2010)

Hakodate line; Japan: Observation seats to be removed

As a consequence of lessons learned in the investigation of a level crossing accident, JR Hokkaido has decided to remove seats in the lower level of “Crystal Express” rolling stock in use on the Hakodate line. The accident in question was on a level crossing in Shenzen on January 29th, 2010, in which 45 passengers were injured.

JR Hokkaido is removing a total of 16 seats in the lower deck saloon in the outer vehicles of the “Crystal Express” trains. A partition will be constructed to prevent access to the seats at each end of these train sets.

The cause of the January 29th, 2010 accident has been determined to have been negligence on the part of the dump truck drivers who crossed into the path of the train.

(May 25th, 2010)

Observation car as used on Hakodate line, source JR Hokkaido

Purulia, India: Three die in collision with truck

A passenger train collided with a truck on a level crossing in the Purulia District of West Bengal, killing the three who were the occupants of the light truck. The collision which occurred during the afternoon of May 25th, 2010 was at the Ledabora level crossing on the rail line to Adra.

(May 25th, 2010)

Nagayama, Japan: Collision with light truck, age a factor?

A passenger train collided with a light truck on an active barrier equipped level crossing near the railway station in Nagayama, Kamikawa Prefecture on the island of Hokkaido. It has been suggested that the accident on May 23rd, 2010 was, at least in part, a function of the driver of the truck being 80 years old. The age of the motorist rather than the cause of the accident on a protected level crossing has featured in media reports.

(May 24th, 2010)

Ibaraki, Japan: Panic button saves the day

A collision was averted when the panic button was pressed at the Ibaraki Hazama level crossing, Ibaraki Prefecture when a car had become stuck on the level crossing. The pressing of the button on May 22nd, 2010 resulted in an approaching train being brought to a stand 300 metres short of the obstruction. The car was removed from the railway some 15 minutes later. Although the car was removed quickly, in the region of 11,000 passenger suffered consequential tran delays of up to 30 minutes.

(May 22nd, 2010)

New Delhi, India: City held to ransom before Commonwealth Games

New Delhi’s frantic preparations as host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games are generally on-target for completion. However, one project to be stalled is the widening of a level crossing near the IP depot for which Indian Railways have demanded the city find INR574.5m (GB£0.847m) to fund the highway widening. However, the sum demanded by Indian Railways is seen as extortionate with an inflated price quoted because there is an imperative to fully achieve the public works programme before the Commonwealth Games start on October 3rd, 2010.

(May 22nd, 2010)

Lucknow, India: Delaying a VIP results in suspension

Indian Railways Lucknow Division has suspended a level crossing attendant because he left his post at a level crossing with the barriers closed to road and a VIP waiting for some 15 minutes. The incident came to light when a member of Sonia Gandhi’s staff reported the incident to the Northern Railway. The May 17th, 2010 incident has been attributed to a call of nature on the one hand and, on the other, security arrangements which precluded the railway being advised in advance of the VIP journey

(May 20th, 2010)

Public authorities are making slow progress towards the construction of six road-over-rail bridges and associated level crossing closures in Dhaka. Although work to eliminate the Staff Road level crossing is likely to start in July 2010, it is expected to be six months before can start on any other of the planned road-over-rail bridges.

(May 20th, 2010)

Kankaragunta, India: Grade separation looks likely to happen

The funding agreements that will allow a road-under-rail bridge to replace the closed level crossing adjacent to Kankaragunta railway station, Andhra Pradesh appear to be falling into place. A key element of this is a commitment from India’s South Central Railway to contribute 50% of the funding needed if matching contributions were made. The minister for major industries, Mr Kanna Lakshminarayana has assured the railway authorities that he he would release a matching 50% from his constituency development fund.

The issue of the Kankaragunta level crossing has been an issue ever since it was closed when the Kankaragunta road-over-rail bridge was built. Residents have objected to the extra distance that is involved for many of those now forced to use the overpass. This is particularly an issue for pedestrian, cycle and auto-rickshaw traffic for which an extra two kilometre journey is seen as a step too far.

(May 19th, 2010)

Citizens are encouraged that after many years of them pressing for grade separated crossings of the railway in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, it is now likely that two grade separated crossings of the railway will be built.

Now the Tamil Nadu Highways Department has completed outline plans of the works proposed to take the highway under the railway adjacent to as an extension of Court Road which will allow the closure of level crossing 133. The adjacent level crossing, number 134, will be replaced with a road-over-rail bridge.

Now, more than ten years since pressure for grade separated routes across the railway began to rise, the construction projects will soon be agreed with Indian Railways as a prelude to construction.

(May 14th, 2010)

A passenger on a train was injured, it is believed, as a consequence of a truck bringing down the overhead power lines at a level crossing in Miyabuchi, near Matsumoto. The injury occurred when a train’s pantograph became detached as a result of becoming entangled with the sagging traction current contact wire. Once detached the pantograph broke windows resulting in injury to a passenger on the train.

 

The Police investigation is focused on reports that a truck with an on-board crane was the offending vehicle. It is thought that the incident on May 14th, 2010 occurred because they crane had not been properly lowered to the travel position.

(May 14th, 2010)

A locomotive derailed as it crossed over the Cement Road level crossing. The derailment occurred because the flange-way gap in the level crossing road surface had become blocked with silt. Clearing the silt and re-railing the locomotive took several hours with significant impact on road traffic affected by the closure of Cement Road.

(May 10th, 2010)