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A man has been killed at a level crossing near Yarnton.

The man died after being hit by a train at the crossing in Yarnton Lane, at about 2pm today.

Police are currently at the scene and have cordoned off a section of the road.

The line between Oxford and Banbury has been closed.

A spokesman for First Great Western warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations.

'Train crash death - police statement' ITV News 16:41
'One man dead in train crash' ITV News 16:31
'Transport police confirm train crash' ITV News 16:21

Man dies after car struck by freight train at Yarnton level crossing
 

A man has died after a car was struck by a freight train at a level crossing in Oxfordshire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said officers were called to Sandy Lane level crossing, Yarnton, at 15:40 GMT.

It is believed two people were in the vehicle at the time. One of them was pronounced dead at the scene.

The second person in the car has been taken to hospital. Their condition is not yet known.

The train involved was travelling from Trafford Park to Southampton. The driver of the train is reported to be shaken but uninjured.

BTP said officers were at the scene working to establish how the car came to be on the track.

Cross Country and First Great Western rail services between Oxford and Banbury have been disrupted and replacement buses are in operation.

First Great Western @FGW

 RT @btp_uk Officers are at a level crossing in #Yarnton, Oxon (nr #Tackley) after a car was struck by a train.

Line problem: between Banbury and...
 Owing to a problem at a level crossing between Banbury and Oxford all lines are blocked.
 Impact:
 Train services running through these stations may be cancelled at short notice. Disruption is expected until 02:00 03/01.
 Customer Advice:
 Chiltern Railways, Cross Country and London Underground services are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for First Great Western rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
 Replacement road transport services are conveying passengers between Banbury and Oxford via Heyford in both directions until further notice.

17:23 Banbury to Oxford due 17:52
 This train will be cancelled.
 This is due to a problem at a level crossing.

Man killed in train crash
- last updated Wed 2 Jan 2013


A man has died after a car was hit by a freight train at a level crossing in Oxfordshire this afternoon.

The man was one of two people in the car which was hit at the crossing in Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxfordshire.

British Transport Police said the man was prunounced dead at the scene after they were called at 3.40pm.

A spokeswoman said: "It is believed two people were in the vehicle at the time.

"Sadly, one of them, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The train involved was a Trafford Park to Southampton freight service, and the driver is reported to be shaken but uninjured.

"Officers are working to establish the full circumstances, including how the car came to be on the tracks at the time."

Train passengers on Cross Country and First Great Western services are being warned that they face delays of up to an hour because of the crash north of Oxford, according to the National Rail Enquiries website.

Buses are replacing trains between Oxford and Banbury.

First Great Western said it was expecting disruption to continue into the early hours of tomorrow morning.

The rural crossing in a quiet country lane was reportedly due to be visited by a new speed camera van designed to catch people who attempt to beat level crossing barriers.

British Transport Police are rolling out the purpose-built van to crossings in the county where drivers are known to gamble on beating the warning signals and barriers to get across before the train arrives.

It would then collect video evidence for prosecutions.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman said one person involved in the crash had been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with minor injuries, while two others were treated at the scene.

She was unable to say whether they were in the car or on board the train.

II I ave no reason to doubt your understanding of which crossing the accident happened at but is the meridian article (above) consistent with the crossing you describe ?

Michael Crick (Channel 4 news) has just put this on twitter

Michael Crick ‏@MichaelLCrick

Rail source tells me "technical problems for years" at Yarnton, Oxon level-crossing where man killed this pm. "I knew this would happen."

Network Rail & RAIB will investigate but I really hope it is not true.

The Michael Crick article seems to say the "fault" is that the barriers stay down too long i.e preventing road vehicles from moving forward.  If so then this is if anything a "fail safe".

What absolute tosh.  For an AHBC the road closure time is a minimum of 29 seconds and worse case (for two trains with the first striking out just as the second strikes in is 29+10+29=68 seconds).  It may be slightly longer if the trains are not running at linespeed but the normal calculations are based upon 80% of trains arriving within the 29 seconds.  I don't think that the train passing time is likely to add much to that (depends on train length) so say worse case is crossing closed for 90 seconds.

Not really sure this is a technical problem appears to be inappropriate equipment.

The Michael Crick article seems to say the "fault" is that the barriers stay down too long i.e preventing road vehicles from moving forward.  If so then this is if anything a "fail safe".

(would you cross a red light at a road junction??).

Whilst it might not be the right thread to raise these comments as they may seem insenstive, for which I apologise in advance.

Thanks, BerkshireBugsy.

It is a very difficult decision, working out where best on this forum to place any discussion about an incident in which someone has died.

However, on balance, and provided our members post appropriately, I do think it's better to conduct any discussion in the public area of this forum - where our hopefully constructive comments and suggestions can reach a wider audience.

Chris.  :(

http://www.btp.police.uk/latest_news/car_struck_by_train_yarnton.asp

Fyi

Full width barriers will only be used if the crossing is monitored. Either locally (e.g. a signal box) or by a signalman viewing a CCTV feed. They can then raise the barriers should a vehicle become trapped on the crossing.

The reason for the half barriers at automatic unmonitored crossings is so that they don't inadvertently trap a vehicle on the crossing. A vehicle's exit off the crossing is always clear. If you had full barriers at an automatic unmonitored crossing you'd have no way for vehicles to escape the crossing once the barriers are lowered.

But I'm sorry to say that if you instal half barriers you will always get the odd "clown" with occasionally predictable and sad results.

Apologies.

Those clearly intent on suicide - for whom I feel genuinely sorry - will always find a way and I guess there are easier ways of ending matters than looking for a half barrier level crossing. I suspect most of those who weave around the barriers are those who can't wait/don't think or are confused or intoxicated.

As a thought why is it not possible to have cameras which are activated when the orange lights start to flash and deactivate when the barriers are fully raised again? I guess cost is one of the factors.

Surprised that some sort of obstruction detection device has not been fitted to level crossings, automatically reverting the signals protecting the crossing to danger if something is detected to be obstructing the crossing.

I think also that the timescales involved in such incidents which can be measured in terms of a few seconds, would mean little improvement would be possible.

Train hits car at Oxfordshire level crossing

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71077000/jpg/_71077224_71076587.jpg)
The crash happened at the crossing on Sandy Lane in Yarnton

A car has been hit by a train at a level crossing in Oxfordshire, leaving the driver trapped inside.

The crash took place on the crossing at Sandy Lane in Yarnton, Kidlington, just after 16:30 BST.

One woman on the train was treated for minor injuries and another woman was being cut from the car. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The road has been closed and rail services between Oxford and Banbury have been suspended.

The train was a Cross Country service travelling between Bournemouth and Manchester Piccadilly.

In January, 85-year-old Thomas Pizzey, from Banbury, was killed when his car was in a crash with a freight train at the same location.

"On arrival, emergency services discovered one woman inside the car, a black Volkswagen Golf. She has since been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital for an assessment, although her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."

Second incident in a year at the same crossing, very sad.

Woman detained after train hits car at Yarnton level crossing

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71077000/jpg/_71077224_71076587.jpg)
The crash happened at the crossing on Sandy Lane in Yarnton

A woman has been detained under the Mental Health Act after the car she was driving was hit by a train at a level crossing in Oxfordshire.

The crash happened on the crossing at Sandy Lane in Yarnton, Kidlington, just after 16:30 GMT on Tuesday.

The woman, who is in her 40s and from Banbury, had driven the VW Golf on to the tracks. She was cut free by the emergency services and taken to hospital, but was not seriously hurt.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "The train involved, the 2.45pm Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly Cross Country service, remained upright and on the tracks. There were no reported injuries to the 100 passengers on board the train."

The woman remains in hospital for an assessment.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have been informed, he added.

Officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and have urged anyone with information to contact British Transport Police.

The road was closed on Tuesday evening and rail services between Oxford and Banbury were suspended.

In January, 85-year-old Thomas Pizzey from Banbury was killed when his car was in a crash with a freight train at the same location.

Thanks again, Chris

???

Witnesses recall moment of collision in train crash

A man has described how he had to leave a woman ^to die^ on a rail crossing as a train approached.

Scaffolder Darren Day said he and a workmate came across a Volkswagen Golf that had stopped on the Sandy Lane crossing on Tuesday afternoon before the barriers came down and the alarm sounded.

The 36-year-old, from Kidlington, said he tried to break the window to get the driver out but he had to get off the line. He said: ^As soon as I heard the train coming I thought she is going to die if I don^t help her.^

But he said: ^The train was about 100ft away and I had to leave for my own safety. It was leaving another human being to die in my eyes.^

Mr Day said he could only watch as the train smashed into the car, forcing it to roll about four times and end up upside down.

Cowley man Mark Tierney, 29, who arrived on the scene shortly after, said he was surprised the woman survived. He said: ^It was awful. None of us were brave enough to go to the wreckage to see if she was okay. That spot is dangerous sometimes anyway but to see the car the way it was, I am surprised she made it.^

The driver, a woman in her 40s from Banbury, was yesterday being held under the Mental Health Act as police investigated the cause of the crash.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers were waiting to speak to her about the incident.

The woman had to be cut from her car after the Bournemouth to Manchester train hit it at about 4.40pm, and she was taken to Oxford^s John Radcliffe Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Network Rail yesterday said early signs showed the crossing, which has a history of malfunctions, was working properly at the time of the crash.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is verifying this is correct.

Network Rail spokeswoman Dayle Sellars said: ^Network Rail is cooperating fully with RAIB in the investigation. Early indications are that the crossing was working correctly at the time of the incident.^

The Oxford Mail reported earlier this year that the crossing malfunctioned 21 times in 2012.

Kidlington resident Shirley Jarvis, 69, said she saw a van almost get trapped on the line earlier this month. She said a train passed and the barriers went up only to come down a few seconds later and another train pass through. She said: ^He was halfway over before the lights started flashing and the barrier came down.^

Mrs Jarvis, of High Street, said she would no longer be driving over the crossing after the latest incident. She said: ^Anybody local will be very wary about using it now.^

Trains between Oxford and Banbury were running as expected yesterday. All services had been suspended until 10pm on Tuesday.

In January, 85-year-old Banbury man Thomas Pizzey died when the car he was in was hit by a freight train on the same crossing.

Suicide woman kept in custody

A woman who caused a train crash when she parked on a level crossing in a suicide bid has been remanded in custody at her own request.

Heather Bister, 46, of Austin Drive, Banbury, was arrested after she stopped her car on the Sandy Lane level crossing in Yarnton on November 12 last year. A Cross Country service hit Bister^s car but she escaped with minor injuries and no one else was hurt.

She has admitted endangering safety on the railways and appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced.

Prosecutor Cathy Olliver explained the defendant has been arrested twice since the incident for trying to go to Oxford Railway Station and throw herself in front of a train.

Lucy Tapper, defending, said her client was very sorry about what she had done, but felt that she could not stop herself trying to commit suicide.

Judge Mary Jane Mowat told Bister she was clearly ^very ill^ and that she would need to see a psychiatrists^ report before passing sentence.

At a hearing held a short time later, Miss Tapper said her client wanted to be remanded in custody because she feared she would again try to end her life. This was granted and Bister will now be sentenced on March 14.

Closure now abandoned as freight paths haven't increased as planned.