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Fatal accident at Bayles and Wylies footpath crossing, Bestwood, Nottingham, 28 November 2012

The RAIB is investigating the fatal accident that occurred at Bayles and Wylies footpath crossing, Bestwood, Nottingham, on Wednesday 28th November 2012. At about 19:00 hrs, a tram running from Nottingham (Station Street) to Hucknall struck and killed a 13 year old girl who was walking across the tramway from its west side.

The crossing traverses both the single-track tramway and a single-track railway running parallel to, and adjacent to, the tramway. Trams and trains run in both directions on their respective lines. The two parts of the crossing are effectively separate crossings and each part is managed separately; one part by the tramway and the other by the railway^s infrastructure manager.

The west side of the crossing over the tramway is equipped with fencing which creates a chicane for pedestrians to pass through and signage that instructs crossing users to look both ways.

The crossing is close to housing, a business park and a country park. It also carries the Robin Hood Way, a long distance footpath in Nottinghamshire.

(http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources/BaylesandWylies2012.jpg)
Image of accident location at Bayles and Wylies footpath crossing

The RAIB^s investigation will identify the sequence of events that led to the accident and any factors which may have influenced the actions of the young girl (including lighting conditions and the audibility of the approaching tram). It will also examine:
- the design and operation of the crossing;
- risk management;
- the history of the crossing;
- previous accidents and near-misses;
- actions taken following the fatal accident on the railway side of the crossing in 22 November 2008.

The RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigation by the safety authority (the Office of Railway Regulation) or the police.

The RAIB will publish a report, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available on the RAIB website.

Summary

At around 19:00 hrs on 28 November 2012, a young person who was using the crossing over the tramway at Bayles and Wylies crossing, Bestwood, Nottingham was struck and fatally injured by a tram that was travelling at 70 km/h (43 mph).

The young person moved into the path of the tram as it approached the crossing and appeared to be unaware of the tram^s approach. The RAIB has been unable to positively establish why she seemingly did not see and react to the approaching tram or respond to the horn. Apart from a break of 0.3 seconds, this was sounded continuously as she walked towards and onto the tram track.

Closed-circuit television coverage from the front of the tram indicates that she did not look towards the tram after she entered the crossing through a chicane on its west side. However, there is no clear evidence to indicate what actions she took at the chicane; it is possible that she may not have looked towards the approaching tram, or looked but not seen it. Furthermore, although there is no direct evidence, it can not be ruled out that she saw the tram approaching and thought that she had enough time to
cross, or that it would stop or slow down.

Bayles and Wylies crossing consisted of two separately managed crossings of the Nottingham tramway and a parallel Network Rail route. Network Rail closed the crossing in February 2013 pending the construction of a footbridge to replace it. This obviated the need for the RAIB to make any recommendations to improve the crossing.

The RAIB has made four recommendations. These cover the manner in which persons in the path of a tram are audibly warned; the marking of the boundary of pedestrian crossings of tramways; the prompts to pedestrians to look for approaching trams; and the best means to illuminate pedestrian crossings to avoid glare that could affect the ability of pedestrians to detect approaching trams.