Caldicot rail passengers put lives in danger to avoid large puddle

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the South Wales Argus:

Caldicot rail passengers put lives in danger to avoid large puddle


MUDDY: Commuters in Caldicot are crossing railway lines to avoid this puddle

Commuters at Caldicot train station are ^dicing with death^ by crossing the railway line to avoid wading through a pool of water to get to the platform. The concerning issue has been unresolved for around three weeks and affects passengers travelling to destinations like Newport and Cardiff.

A 40-year-old woman, who uses the station to travel to work at a Newport legal practice, said she faced the indignity of paddling through the water which she estimated at its height was nearly 2ft. She said: ^Unfortunately I just went through it in my ordinary clothes, I was wearing a dress and thick tights, my shoes were soaking and I had to sit there in work all day.^

The dirty water has been underneath the bridge since the region experienced the first of the heaviest rainfall several weeks ago. It is on a road which is the only way to get to the platform to catch trains to Cardiff and Newport, by foot or by car.

The source said to avoid the water, people have been crossing the tracks instead, sometimes within minutes of trains. Despite urgent calls to Network Rail, she says nothing has been done and fears there could soon be a tragedy.

^People are dicing with death by crossing the track. Only the other day I saw a gentleman push his wife across in a wheelchair and there are others with pushchairs,^ said the commuter, who wishes to remain anonymous. ^They are crossing within minutes of trains. I am waiting for a disaster to happen.^

Caldicot councillor Dave Evans said the same spot was affected by flooding a couple of years ago and there was some disagreement over who should deal with it.

On Wednesday, Monmouthshire's highways department produced a map showing that the council's responsibility for maintaining the road from the Severn View Social Club to the railway station ends just before the tunnel.

Cllr Evans said: "I think National Rail should take responsibility and stop passing the buck. It's dangerous people are crossing the tracks, if young people see grown-ups doing it they will follow. The more people complain about the issue, hopefully we will get it sorted quicker."

A spokeswoman for National Rail was sent a copy of the map and said the matter would be investigated further: "We are taking this matter very seriously as trespassing onto the railway track is illegal and could result in serious consequences. We will be inspecting the site to investigate the cause of the problem and if necessary, work with Monmouthshire council to address the issue. In the meantime, we also urge the public to report any incidents of misuse to the British Transport Police."

[bobm]

That must be one of the lowest bridges around.  I couldn't even walk under that without bending my back!

[eightf48544]

That's really bad. Who tells Netwrok Rail what do regards safety these days? Who ever it is should issue a mandatory clearance notice immediately with risk of fine if not complied with.

Either that or Network Rail should put in a crossing with a lookout manned whilst trains are stopping to let people across the track.

How long does it take to erect a scaffold footbridge? A night? OK they'd need perssession but that sholdn't be problem. 

[broadgage]

Of course people should not cross rail tracks, except when authorised, but are the risks realy that great in this case ?
Line speed ?
Sighting distance ?
Frequency of trains ?

In many locations, crossing the line was permitted until recently, and whilst accidents did occur they were not common if compared to the millions who crossed safely.

I am not convinced that crossing a lightly used rail track with a modest line speed is any more dangerous than crossing the road.

[grahame]

In many locations, crossing the line was permitted until recently, and whilst accidents did occur they were not common if compared to the millions who crossed safely.

In many locations it still is ... there are four public footpath crossings (at least) on the single track section between Chippenham and Trowbridge.   And at some, there's nothing to help the person crossing - you literally step onto the edge of the sleepers, over the first rail, over the second rail, and down off the sleepers.  Slippery, trip hazards.   The very few of us who use these remote crossings do so with care - looking both ways as trains could come either way, listening too, doing a "box junction check" - i.e. looking ahead to make sure we can get off the far side of the line before we step up and on.

However, these locations are also protected by "Whistle" boards so you should get an extra audible alert which you wouldn't get at Caldicot, and the train driver will be aware (for what it's worth) that people may be crossing - so he can keep a lookout.   I suppose it IS worthwhile as he can blow his horn again loud and longer if he sees someone there, and slam on the anchors if that person appears to be in danger.

Dangerous at these crossings - maybe.   But much more dangerous to cross elsewhere, and more dangerous again to walk along the tracks where you won't be expected, and where you won't be keeping a constant lookout for unexpected trains, however much you think you are keeping a lookout.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.  Reminds me of something I've been considering posting here for some time, but hadn't got round to doing so - until now. 

On the Bristol to Exeter main line, south of Nailsea, there is a location where a public footpath crosses the railway track. The line speed here is 100 mph, by the way.

The pedestrian crossing is approached, on either side of the embankment, up a fairly steep gravel / ballast footpath, with some wooden steps to assist progress - but it is clearly not suited for those of impaired mobility.  There are trees along both sides of the line, limiting visibility - especially in the summer months.

Nevertheless, those reaching the summit are there offered the opportunity to simply walk across the main line - with only a couple of warning signs on either side: no barriers, gates or lights at all.

In the past, while walking our dog along that public footpath, I've shepherded my family across the tracks quite briskly after looking carefully, then starting to cross - and then noting a non-stopping HST^▸ (High Speed Train) appearing around the bend from Nailsea & Backwell station at probably something like line speed. 

In such circumstances, I raised one arm to acknowledge to the train driver that I'd seen him, whilst I chivvied the family off the tracks, mucho pronto!

My point is this: there are still many locations where public footpaths cross the railway tracks - so everyone needs to be aware of the relative dangers at each of such crossings.

I do hope this anecdote helps to raise awareness of the very real dangers of crossing the tracks - even where it is 'permitted'.

CfN 

[John R]

I used that crossing a few years ago, and I would agree that it is far from ideal.

To pick up Grahame's point about whistle boards, wasn't there a change in policy a few years ago that drivers are instructed not to whistle as a matter of course, because of the annoyance to any local residents? I always felt that was a rather curious decision - in an age where we are striving to minimise further risk to life generally, and on the railway in particular, often at huge cost per life saved, we appeared to take a step backwards to benefit people who would have known of the problem when they moved in.

(I seem to recall that it was partly because horns were becoming louder, but it seemed doubly perverse to impose a standard making horns louder, and then as a result tell drivers not to use them.)

[Network SouthEast]

The old rule was sound the horn at a Whistle Board any time of day.

The new rule is at a Whistle Board to sound the low tone (loud setting (if a train with a choice of soft/loud)) of the horn between 07:00 and 23:00, or otherwise as required (emergency, someone on/near line/crossing). So if a driver still feels the need to sound a horn, or a mixture of tones, this is still fine at any time of day.

I believe the RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board) calculated the relaxation of the rule as expected to caused one extra fatality per ten years, which surprised me at the time because I would have thought any extra deaths would be unacceptable.

Here is the extract on horns from the rule book:

45.1 General
You must only use the horn as much as is necessary to give an effective warning or to make sure safe working takes place.

45.2 Warning tones to use
If two tones are provided, you must use the horn as shown below. If the horn has no soft/loud setting, you must use the setting provided.

Circumstances Tones you must use
To give a warning to anyone on or near a running line High and low tones - use the loud setting
To give an urgent warning to anyone on or dangerously near to the line High tone - use the loud
setting
When passing a whistle board Low tone - use the loud setting
To give a warning when in a depot or siding Low tone - use the soft setting
To sound a local or special code High tone - use the loud setting
Wrong-direction movements High tone - use the loud setting

45.3 Sounding the horn as a warning

a) Anyone on or near the line
You must sound the horn to warn anyone who is on or near the
line on which you are travelling. Give a series of short, urgent danger warnings to anyone who is
on or dangerously near the line who does not:
^ acknowledge your warning by raising one arm above the head,
or
^ appear to move clear out of the way of the train.

b) Whistle boards
You must sound the horn when passing a whistle board only between 0700 and 2300, except in an emergency or when anyone is on or near the line.

c) Within a possession
You must sound the horn on starting your train when making a movement within a possession.

d) Wrong-direction movements
When making a wrong-direction movement on a running line for which there is no signal provided, you must sound a series of short blasts at frequent intervals.

e) Train movements
You must sound the horn at any other time you consider necessary.