Nizhny Novgorod, Russia: Campaign nets 900 motorists

A one day police operation targeting motorists who abuse level crossings in the Nizhny Novgorod region, unearthed 900 violations of applicable traffic safety rules. Of these 163 were for level crossing related offences with the balance covering the spectrum of traffic rules. The exercise on February 26th, 2010 involved 166 traffic police officers deployed at 78 level crossings across the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The heavy police presence was not just an enforcement drive as leaflets promoting the safe use of level crossings were handed out to motorists waiting at the level crossings.

(February 26th, 2010)

Europe: ERA details serious level crossing accidents since 1990

The European Rail Agency (ERA) has published details of the most serious rail accidents in Europe since 1990. In total the ERA analysis details 402 accidents involving the loss of five or more lives. Those at level crossings in which there were on-train fatalities included in the ERA analysis are:

European Rail Agency, source ERA

Diepenbeek, Belgium: Zig-zag litigation continues five years on

Parents who lost children in an accident on the Diepenbeekse Nierstraa level in Diepenbeek five years ago are pursuing a claim for damages against Infrabel, the Belgian national rail infrastructure manager and train operator NMBS/SNCB.

The circumstances of the accident were that a train had failed in close proximity to the level crossing and that the 21-year-old motorist then drove around the still lowered half barriers into the path of a second train running at 75 kph seven minutes after the first train had failed. The time is significant as had the first train been at a stand for ten minutes, the second train would have been cautioned and crossed the level crossing at walking pace.

The parental concerns are that the speed of trains should be lowered immediately when a train has failed in a way that has locked a level crossing against road traffic.

Rather than the money as a token of liability, the parents will be satisfied if the lessons learned from the accident that claimed the lives of their sons are applied at all active level crossings in Belgium.

As might be expected when litigation is ongoing, neither NMBS/SNCB  or Infrabel have commented on the continuing actions in the Belgian justice system other than to remind motorists that when the lights are flashing and barriers are lowered they must never cross the railway.

(February 23rd, 2010)

A collision between a train and a car on the Hørby Lunde level crossing on Highway 15 near Herning, Denmark, was, it is believed, caused by a loss of adhesion on a slippery packed snow road surface. There were no injuries in this accident which occurred early on February 22nd, 2010 because the motorist immediately evacuated his car. There had been an overnight snowfall of between five and ten centimetres..

(February 22nd, 2010)

Cambridge Magistrates have heard the case of a motorist who drove across a level crossing in Foxton, Cambridgeshire against the flashing red lights and already lowering barriers. Having entered a plea of guilty the motorist was fined GB£600 plus costs of GB£50 and three penalty points.

Railway and police sources have said they welcome the Magistrates recognition that ignoring the stop lights and crossing under lowering barriers has potentially catastrophic consequences and the fine of GB£600 which significantly exceeds the generality of fines handed dow for similar transgressions.

(February 21st, 2010)

Killarney, Ireland: Anger over plans to close level crossing

Iarnród Éireann’s (Irish Rail) plans to close the Stagmount user worked level crossing on the line between Killarney and Rathmore, Co Kerry, has generated an angry reaction from residents facing an added drive of up to 8 km each and every time they leave home.

The Stagmount level crossing which provides residents of 14 properties with access to the main N72 Killarney to Mallow road has the biggest 8km impact on those making journeys to Rathmore.

The residents argument against closure centres on both the inconvenience they will suffer and also that the road to their properties was there long before the coming of the railway. Accordingly, residents argue that Irish Rail should upgrade the level crossing to an automated status.

The foundation of the Irish Rail case for closure of the Stagmount level crossing is the endemic abuse of the crossing with users’ regularly leaving gates open. Thus, Irish Rail argues that the case for closure is one of safety for those travelling by train. Grade separation is cost prohibitive.

A three month consultation on Irish Rail’s proposal to extinguish the public right of way over the Stagmount level crossing has begun.

(February 20th, 2010)

A motorist and a passenger in a car were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling was hit by a train on the Via Industria level crossing at the intersection with Via Colombera in Caslano, Ticino. The accident which occurred mid-morning on February 20th, 2010 was at an open level crossing protected by lights. It has been suggested that the motorist turned onto the level crossing from the Via Colombera and failed to notice the lights indicating the presence of a train

(February 20th, 2010)

A worker was killed when he was supervising the movement of a truck over an unmanned level crossing close to the railway station in Berriz, Vizcaya. The accident occurred on February 19th, 2010 when the truck was delivering a replacement telegraph pole to a worksite adjacent to the railway.

The truck itself stopped short of the level crossing as required by the stop signs protecting the passive level crossing. However, the worker who was supervising the manoeuvring of the truck moved forward onto the level crossing where he was fatally injured when struck by a train.

(February 19th, 2010)

Hexham, United Kingdom: Network Rail enters guilty plea

Network Rail, Britain’s national rail infrastructure manager pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence at a hearing in Tynedale Magistrates Court sitting in Hexham, Northumberland on February 17th, 2010.

The offence of breaching a general duty of care arises from a fatal accident at West Lodge level crossing near Haltwhistle, Northumbria, on January 22nd, 2008. The charge was brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) because although a risk assessment took place in 2005, no action had been taken to address the recommendations arising from it.

Since the accident Network Rail has installed signs asking that crossing users telephone the signaller to establish if it is safe to cross. Unsurprisingly the family of the teenager who was killed on West Lodge crossing argue that this is too little too late.

Rather, they argue the crossing should be upgraded so that there are lights to warn of an approaching train or, if these are not to be provided, the crossing should be closed.

The call for closure emerged at the inquest held in November 2008 when an ORR Inspector gave evidence that the crossing had been sub-standard for a long time and that Network Rail had failed to act on the evidence that the status quo was unacceptable. Thus the ORR Inspector said that the configuration of the crossing was material to the fatal accident.

The case has now been referred to Newcastle Crown Court.

(February 18th, 2010)

Murmansk, Russia: Court orders closure of “orphan” road

Railway officials in Murmansk have been to court to progress the closure of a level crossing for which mo responsible party can be found. Two of the “orphan” level crossings in question are in Kildinstroy, Murmansk Oblast, with one leading to four residential properties and a quarry and the other to a military facility. The railway authorities argue that as no party will accept responsibility for the roads which cross the railway, the level crossings should be eliminated. This situation prevails despite attempts to get the local authority to assume responsibility for what appear to be public roads.

(February 18th, 2010)

Moreton-on-Lugg, United Kingdom: Charges to be laid?

Sources linked to the police investigation into the death of a woman in the January 16th, 2010 collision on the Moreton-on-Lugg level crossing (LXinfo February 2010) have indicated that Network Rail, the national rail infrastructure manager, and possibly the signaller on duty may be charged.

At present the police investigation is continuing with a focus on why and how the barriers were raised to allow road traffic at the time of the collision when previously they had been lowered in anticipation of the train which subsequently collided with two cars with fatal consequences. Any decision to prosecute would be taken by the Crown Prosecution Service and not the British Transport Police. In addition to the police investigation of possible criminality, the independent Rail Accident Investigation Branch is working to understand the immediate, underlying and root causes of the accident without attribution of blame. The Office of Rail Regulation has also launched an investigation. A fourth, internal, investigation is being undertaken by Network Rail.
          
Concerns over the configuration of the Moreton-on-Lugg manned controlled barrier equipped level crossing are mounting in the community. This is because they believe that it was just chance that the barriers were raised before the train arrived on January 16th, 2010 and that they could have been raised like this at any time. Some regular users believe that the configuration of the crossing did not protect against a subsequent human error that led to the barriers being raised before the train had passed across the level crossing. Given this, there is an expectation that Network Rail will explain the actions they have taken to prevent a recurrence.

(February 17th, 2010)

Astrakhan, Russia: Three dead in collision, train passengers hospitalised

An increase of 80% in the number of accidents at level crossings in Russia has been recorded. The increased percentage is for January 2010 when compared with January 2009. January 2010 saw 32 collisions in which 11 people died and a further 12 injured.

Against this background and a further accident on an active open level crossing near Astrakhan on February 9th, 2010 in which a three people died and a further 23 were taken to hospital following between a car and a passenger train which derailed, reminders are being issued to motorists to heed level crossing signs and signals.

Simple messaging drives home that a train takes time to stop yet life can be snuffed out in an instant. Likewise the messaging drives home the point that motorists who ignore level crossing controls risk not only their own lives and those of their passengers but also those who are travelling on trains. A point well made in Astrakhan following the accident on February 9th, 2010. It is hoped that the car driver who was critically injured in the collision will regain consciousness and then be able to throw some light on how the accident happened.

(February 17th, 2010)

Bács-Kiskun, Hungary: Mother and son killed on open crossing

A woman, believed to be the mother, and a 15-year-old male were killed when the car in which they were travelling was hit by a train on an open level crossing. The accident occurred on February 17th, 2010 on the railway line between Kiskunfélegyháza and Kiskunmajsa in Bács-Kiskun County.

(February 17th, 2010)

Bilthoven, Netherlands: Pedestrian fatality at level crossing

A pedestrian was killed when struck by a train very close to the Leijenseweg level crossing in Bilthoven which was the scene of two fatal accidents in 2009 (LXinfo July 2009 and November 2009). The latest fatality which occurred before 08.00 on February 17th, 2010 has been determined by the police to be intentional. It is understood that access to the railway right of way was from the Leijenseweg level crossing.

(February 17th, 2010)

Proposals that will see the rail route through Blakedown, near Kidderminster, re-signalled have raised concerns that the resultant conversion of the crossing to CCTV controls would make it less safe. The rationale for the concerns is that having the level crossing controlled from the adjacent signal box encourages safe use of the crossing.

The Blakedown level crossing has a history of abuse which suggests that not everyone is deterred from abusing the crossing by the presence of the signaller.

Network Rail has said that plans to re-signal the line and convert to CCTV control of the Blakedown level crossing are not imminent. Network Rail also made clear that changes would only be made in a way which was at least equally as safe as the arrangements in place today.

(February 17th, 2010)

A truck collided with a train on a level crossing causing the train to derail in the process of which a train occupant was injured. The collision occurred at an automatic half barrier equipped level crossing on the line linking Pritzwalk (Landkreis Prignitz )and Wittstock (Landkreis Ostprignitz-Ruppin), Brandenburg, on February 16th, 2010.

(February 16th, 2010)

Concerns at the safety of road users have been raised following another unsafe failure of the barrier equipped level crossing in Bojano, Molise, Italy, along with others on the rail line from Campobasso. The failure of the level crossings led to trains being cautioned. However, the local community believes that not enough was done to warn motorists that the level crossings had failed and that trains were still operating (albeit under caution with a requirement to stop before proceeding over each of the level crossings that had failed.

This incident on February 16th, 2010 has led to renewed calls for an underpass to allow for elimination of the Bojano level crossing. So far, the RFI, the national rail infrastructure manager has not responded other than to point out that in their opinion appropriate steps were taken to protect motorists and pedestrians using the level crossings which had failed in an unsafe manner.

 

As can be seen in the image accompanying this story, there was no indication to motorists that the level crossing wa not operating as it should nor was anyone present to control road traffic at the failed level crossing.

(February 16th, 2010)

Train crossing failed level crossing in Bojano

A bus driver was threatened and assaulted when he intervened to stop a motorist crossing the railway when the level crossing was closed to road traffic. The incident occurred at the Amersfoortsestraat level crossing in Amersfoort during the morning of February 15th, 2010.

The level crossing had been closed to road traffic for some while when a motorist overtook a line of waiting traffic with the intention of crossing the railway. The bus driver left his vehicle in an attempt to stop the errant motorist. However, the motorist didn’t stop until after he had hit the bus driver a glancing blow. Next, when the car stopped the bus driver spoke to the motorist he was threatened.

As might be expected the police are now looking for the errant motorist.

(February 15th, 2010)

Amersfoortsestraat level crossing, source Mariuspals

Sofia, Bulgaria: Fatal collision with snow-plough

A snow-plough failed to stop at a lowered barrier and was hit by an oncoming train with fatal consequences for the vehicle’s driver according to the national rail infrastructure manager. The accident which also seriously injured the train driver occurred at the protected level crossing in the Orlandovtsi district of the capital at approximately 04.30 on February 15th, 2010.

However, the employer of the snow-plough driver maintained that the crossing was not functioning as intended. Indeed, railway staff was working to restore the level crossing lights and audible alarms which were not working because of defective cabling.

In response rail authorities argued that the snow-plough driver should have seen the lowered barriers and stopped at them. In response the snow-plough driver’s employer argued that the failure of the level crossing equipment was a precursor of the vehicle’s intrusion onto the railway and that this must therefore be seen as the root cause of the accident.

The Mayor of Sofia has ordered a review of the safety arrangements at all level crossings in the capital.

(February 15th, 2009)

Swainsthorpe, United Kingdom: Another intentional death?

The level crossing at Swainsthorpe, Norfolk claimed another life on February 14th, 2010 which the British Transport Police say is not being treated as suspicious.

In recent years the Swainsthorpe level crossing has been the scene of two intentional deaths, leading to speculation that the latest fatality was also intentional. Additionally, there has been an accidental fatality at the Swainsthorpe crossing.

The Coroner opened and adjourned an inquest on February 15th, 2010.

(February 15th, 2010)

Cooperation between the local Bergen op Zoom administration and ProRail, the Dutch national rail infrastructure manager has been marked by a ministerial visit to mark the closure of the Markiezaatsweg level crossing. Camiel Eurlings, Minister of Transport and Water Management welcomed the elimination of the level crossing which, despite being a temporary solution, has been in use for 25 years. Now, the grade separated solution provides both a highway underpass and one for wildlife too.

The Minister noted that Bergen op Zoom is the first municipality to have partnered with ProRail in this manner and anticipated that further similar projects will ensue. The Minister further noted that there are national funds available for projects to eliminate level crossings in urban areas.

(February 15th, 2010)

A motorist died when he ignored the stop lights at an active open level crossing in Faraoani, Bacau County, and proceeded into the path of an approaching train. The accident was on a public road linking an industrial premise on one side of the railway with the DN2 public highway on the other.

Both passengers managed to evacuate the car before the ensuing collision which occurred on February 12th, 2010.

(February 13th, 2010)