Wraysholme level crossing incident (November 2008)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From another sad 'death at level crossing' incident - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Death sparks crossing review call

Network Rail has been asked to review the safety of level crossings after the death of a Cumbrian motorist.

Investigators said Jonathan Crabtree, 41, might have been dazzled by the sun and left unable to see warning signs at Wraysholme in November 2008. He was killed instantly when a train struck his car at the automated crossing near Grange-over-Sands.

Network Rail has been asked to identify all crossings which might pose similar problems because of sunlight.

Mr Crabtree's car was hit by the 0937 Carlisle to Lancaster train which had 32 passengers on board. No-one else was seriously injured and the train did not leave the tracks. Mr Crabtree's two dogs, which were in the back of his car, survived the impact.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) report concluded Mr Crabtree could have been unable to see the warning lights at the crossing because the sun was low in the sky at the time.

The RAIB has now asked Network Rail to revise its inspection process to identify crossings which may face similar problems and, where necessary, make improvements.

Network Rail said it was studying the report's recommendations.

The level crossing at Wraysholme has a barrier with a warning light and klaxons to tell motorists a train is approaching.

Edit note: This topic has been split from http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5409.msg52398#msg52398

[Mookiemoo]

From another sad 'death at level crossing' incident - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Death sparks crossing review call

Network Rail has been asked to review the safety of level crossings after the death of a Cumbrian motorist.

Investigators said Jonathan Crabtree, 41, might have been dazzled by the sun and left unable to see warning signs at Wraysholme in November 2008. He was killed instantly when a train struck his car at the automated crossing near Grange-over-Sands.

Network Rail has been asked to identify all crossings which might pose similar problems because of sunlight.

Mr Crabtree's car was hit by the 0937 Carlisle to Lancaster train which had 32 passengers on board. No-one else was seriously injured and the train did not leave the tracks. Mr Crabtree's two dogs, which were in the back of his car, survived the impact.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) report concluded Mr Crabtree could have been unable to see the warning lights at the crossing because the sun was low in the sky at the time.

The RAIB has now asked Network Rail to revise its inspection process to identify crossings which may face similar problems and, where necessary, make improvements.

Network Rail said it was studying the report's recommendations.

The level crossing at Wraysholme has a barrier with a warning light and klaxons to tell motorists a train is approaching.

If you are dazzled by sunlight and can't see - SLOW DOWN

Even if it means an emergency stop (I've done it a few times) since if someone drives into you they are too close

As I said - I'm not a speed evangalist and am kamikaze but if I cant see, I stop ASAP

And how can sunlight obscure a Klaxon?

[paul7575]

From another sad 'death at level crossing' incident - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

The level crossing at Wraysholme has a barrier with a warning light and klaxons to tell motorists a train is approaching.

And that bit is complete bo$$ocks - if the journo had actually read the report or even just studied the picture they've used, he'd realise it is an open crossing. Those diagonal crosses above the red lights are a bit of a clue.  The other point the report is clear on, is that the audible alarms are there for pedestrians - if drivers hear them at all it is an added bonus.

I've reported this to the BBC via their feedback page. So it might change...

Edit - they've removed the last sentence from the report - so the 'Newswatch' feature (under 'contact us') can work...

[signalandtelegraph]

Also a suggestion that the lights don't flash if batteries are dead?  surely the crossing should be more failsafe than that (trains cautioned until batteries fixed or staff get to the scene?

It is important to understand how these crosings work.  The train driver will receive a flashing white light to tell him that the road lights are flashing and alight and that the mains power has not failed.  If the mains subsequently fails then the driver will not receive a white light but the roadlights will still operate until the battery goes flat or power is restored.  In the interim the rule book instructs the train driver to approach the crossing under extreme caution and ensure the crossing is clear before proceeding. 

[Tim]

[ but the roadlights will still operate until the battery goes flat or power is restored.  

Thanks for the info.  IIUIC, it was suggested that on some crossings the battery was faulty so the road lights did not operate.  This ought to have caused the driver to proceed under caution so I am confused as to why thsi did not happen.

[paul7575]

And how can sunlight obscure a Klaxon?

Please check out the detail of the report. The RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) do explain that the warning sound is only there to warn pedestrians.

I usually do hear a tone at LCs^▸ (Level Crossing) I use, but then I don't ever have my radio very loud. It seems the design assumes drivers will not hear the tones - and you can imagine the uproar if they made them louder in built up areas...

Paul

[signalandtelegraph]

[ but the roadlights will still operate until the battery goes flat or power is restored.  

Thanks for the info.  IIUIC, it was suggested that on some crossings the battery was faulty so the road lights did not operate.  This ought to have caused the driver to proceed under caution so I am confused as to why thsi did not happen.

It would be a VERY  rare failure to have given the driver a white light in these circumstances.  I would suspect that the motorist was at fault but if there was a history of failures at the crossing it may be a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other.

And how can sunlight obscure a Klaxon?

Please check out the detail of the report. The RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) do explain that the warning sound is only there to warn pedestrians.

I usually do hear a tone at LCs^▸ (Level Crossing) I use, but then I don't ever have my radio very loud. It seems the design assumes drivers will not hear the tones - and you can imagine the uproar if they made them louder in built up areas...

Paul

Correct, audible warnings are only provided for pedestrians.  They are muted to a lower level betwen 2330 and 0700 (the same times as you cannot sound your horn in the Highway Code).  Audible warning  levels at crossings vary depending on factors such as ambient noise , proximity of houses etc.  Commisioned a set at a level crossing last weekend that never had them fitted before and had a row of houses next to it.  Set them fairly low and have had no complaints (as yet  ).  For a full barrier crossing the audible alarms will cease when the barriers are detected down. For other types of crossing the audible alarms sound until the train has passed.

[John R]

It's worth noting that whilst there were several deficiencies with the crossing (which really should have been dealt with, as there were several opportunities for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to have done so), the driver who lost his life did not have a valid driving license, and had 65mg of alcohol in his blood (legal limit is 80mg).

I suspect that may have reduced any attempts to pin the blame at the railway industry (the usual, "it's someone else's fault, not mine") for that particular fatality.