Girl, 15, killed at Bishops Stortford railway crossing (28 January 2012)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A 15-year-old girl was killed when she was hit by a train at a foot crossing in Hertfordshire, police have said.

The girl was struck at Johnson's Footpath Crossing in Bishop's Stortford at about 11:45 GMT on Saturday.

Her death is being treated as a "tragic accident", British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said.

Concerns had previously been raised about the crossing after a previous death there, leading to improved safety measures being installed in 2003.

The girl, who has not been named, is said to come from Bishop's Stortford.

Her next of kin have been told.

A BTP spokeswoman said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

A gate and flashing lights were installed at the site after an 81-year-old woman was killed in 2002 while walking across the track with her dog.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting details of that latest sad story, bignosemac. My heartfelt sympathy to the parents, relatives and friends of the deceased - and to the train crew and others at the scene. 

I also found the remainder of the text in that BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) item particularly apposite:

In 2005, Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, died at nearby Elsenham station, a few miles from Bishop's Stortford, when they were hit by a train while making their way to Cambridge on a shopping trip.

Jill Sortwell, 64, who lives next to Johnson's crossing in Cannons Close, said residents had been worried about the site for years. Fears were heightened with the introduction of the high-speed Stansted Express, she said.

"We have had quite a few fatalities on this line," Mrs Sortwell said. "It is a direct route into town. It is used all day, every day and people become blase, especially the youngsters."

Mrs Sortwell was one of a number of residents who urged former transport secretary Ruth Kelly to introduce a buzzer warning at the crossing and new, track-side gates. But she still feels more needs to be done to make the crossing safe.

"I think it is still dangerous," she said. "The crossing is better now but it still has the potential for bad accidents to happen."

(My highlighting)

How can we make such crossings safer?

And how can we educate teenagers in particular about their potential dangers??

Sorry to go on about this subject, but it's something I feel very strongly about - hence my current 'signature' text.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Huffington Post:

Johnson's Footpath Crossing: Girl, 15, Dies After Being Hit By Train Near Bishop Stortford

A 15-year-old girl has been killed after being hit by a train at a foot crossing. Police are investigating what they said looks to be a "tragic accident".

The girl, who has not been named, died after she was struck at Johnson's Footpath Crossing in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, at around 11.45am yesterday.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) said investigations were carried out on the crossing immediately after the incident and showed no faults with the safety measures in place.

Flashing lights, audible warnings and signalling systems were all operational, a spokesman said, and there were no problems with the fence and gate at the crossing.

"The crossing was tested immediately afterwards, as always happens when something tragic like this happens," he said. "The crossing was shown to be in full working order."

An investigation examining the full circumstances surrounding the teenager's death, who is thought to be from Bishop's Stortford, is being carried out.

Both Network Rail and British Transport Police are treating it as accidental.

BTP said: "The incident is being treated as a tragic accident and it has been declared non-suspicious." An on site investigation had been completed and the crossing was reopened shortly after the incident because it was in full working order, the NR spokesman added.

NR is also co-operating fully with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which is involved in examining the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death.

The Johnson's Footpath Crossing, which is separated from the footpath with a fence and gates on both sides, has signposts detailing safety instructions.

One shows a red and green traffic light and reads: "If no light - proceed with caution."



Underneath is another sign that says: "Cross only when green lights shows" and "cross quickly".

A further sign says: "Do not cross when red lights show."

A traffic light sits behind the fence, just a few feet from the railway track.

On December 3 2005, Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, died at nearby Elsenham station, a few miles from Bishop's Stortford, when they were hit by a train.

NR is to be prosecuted over their deaths, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) has announced, for alleged breaches of health and safety law.

The girls used Elsenham station footpath crossing to reach the station platform. The station's footpath crossing was fitted with warning lights and yodel alarms.

A London to Cambridge train passed over the crossing with the red lights and yodel sounding - a warning for foot passengers not to cross.

After the train passed, the lights remained on and the alarms continued to sound as another train, travelling to Stansted airport in Essex, was going to pass through the station. The girls opened the wicket gates and walked on to the crossing.

They were both struck by the Stansted train and killed.

The ORR said NR faced two charges under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The first hearing is due to take place at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in Essex on January 31.

[thetrout]

That's 31 deaths on the railway this year averaging more than 1 a day Truly shocking! My thoughts to all families and train crews involved! Truly tragic!

[eightf48544]

That's 31 deaths on the railway this year averaging more than 1 a day Truly shocking! My thoughts to all families and train crews involved! Truly tragic!

As you say truly tragic. I had realised that there had been a number including several in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) territory but not 31. Is this one of the highest monthly figures for individual deaths recorded?

If so DaFT^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about), ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about),  HMRI^▸ (Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate), Networkrail and ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) should instigate an immediate enquiry into the reasons for this surge.

I noted on our tour to Brentford that on the Down Main platform at Southall there is prominent notice for the Samaritans in one of the Sub Continent languages.

[broadgage]

Certainly very sad.
Not certain though what can be reasonably done, if people ignore the fairly simple instructions re the red and green lights.
A footbridge would help, but if required to be useable by all is a very costly affair and requires eleaborate fencing, otherwise people will climb over the fence and cross the line anyway, but now without the protection of warning lights.

More people are killed crossing roads than railway lines, and no one apart from those directly involved seems worried.

[eightf48544]

More people are killed crossing roads than railway lines, and no one apart from those directly involved seems worried.

Agreed but a quick Google shows that Pedestrian Deaths (500) in 2010 were down 13% down on 2008.ivingstreets.org.uk/news/uk/-/pedestrian-casualties-down.

If rail figures continue to rise and road fall there will be much less of differential and rail not road will come under very intense scrutiny. Hence the need for quick action, if only to find out why the surge. Once that's known remedies can be sought. 

[tramway]

It might be as a consequence of more people cycling due to it becoming more popular due to the Olympics and that the death rate for cyclists has had a corresponding increase.

There is also the fact there is less traffic around as fuel costs rise, and fewer younger more accident prone drivers about due to higher insurance costs.

Are statistics interesting. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Mirror:

Teenager killed on rail crossing 'was listening to music on headphones'

A teenager hit by a train on a railway crossing was killed because she was listening to her music player, police believe.

Katie Littlewood, 15, failed to hear the train or a warning buzzer on the footpath crossing ^ already a notorious blackspot after previous deaths.

Headphones and an iPod, or similar digital music device, are thought to have been found near her body.

British Transport Police said it was being treated as a ^tragic accident^. Katie was with another girl, unhurt in the incident near their homes.

Network Rail said the pedestrian lights had been working normally at the Johnson^s Footpath Crossing in Bishop^s Stortford, Herts, which residents use to get to shops, a swimming pool and adventure playground.

Katie^s death is the latest there after Andrea Evans, 24, died when she was hit by a train in 2006 and an 81-year-old woman was killed in 2002.

Local safety campaigner Elaine Dawson, 69, said yesterday: ^There have been several deaths over the years.

^And if young people are listening to Walkmans or have a phone to their ear they don^t pay attention to the signals, so we have to protect them. It^s a dangerous crossing and we have campaigned for a bridge to be built.^

An investigation is underway but Network Rail said: ^As a matter of course the crossing was tested immediately after the incident and it was shown to be in full working order.^

Among internet tributes from Katie^s friends was one saying: ^RIP Katie, sleep tight beautiful.^

Another added: ^You were such a lovely girl, always smiling. Netball will never be the same without you Katie, bad things always happen to the nicest people, taken so young. Sleep tight.^

Saturday morning^s tragedy also follows the deaths of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, hit by a train on a footpath crossing at nearby Elsenham station in 2005.

Network Rail is to be prosecuted over their deaths for alleged breaches of health and safety law.

[JayMac]

Headphones. 

Something I immediately thought of when I read and posted the original item. Didn't offer that supposition though as it would've been merely speculation.

Does nothing to lessen the tragic circumstances, but maybe an angle that the investigating authorities will look at...

[broadgage]

The wearing of headphones is certainly a risk factor for both pedestrians and cyclists.
It would be best to avoid them, but if people "must" wear headphones, then surely they should be especialy vigelant for visuall warnings, such as the red/green lights displayed at this level crossing.

No matter what warning devices may be installed, I allways look and listen for trains at level crossings, just as I look for vehicles before crossing a road, even if signals indicate that it should be safe.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Rail Accident Investigation Branch website:

Investigation into a fatal accident at Johnson's footpath level crossing, Bishops Stortford, Essex on 28 January 2012

The RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) is carrying out an investigation into a fatal accident that occurred at Johnson^s footpath level crossing, Bishops Stortford, Essex, on Saturday 28 January 2012. At about 11:40 hrs an express passenger train, the 10:58 hrs service from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge, was travelling at about 64 mph (103 km/h) as it approached Johnson^s crossing. When the train was less than 100 metres from the crossing, the driver observed a pedestrian enter the crossing and walk across the adjacent track towards the path of his train. Although he sounded the train^s horn as a warning and applied the brakes, the pedestrian, a young woman aged 15, was struck and killed.

Johnson^s footpath crossing traverses two tracks and is located close to residential and recreational areas. It is known to be heavily used.

Warning lights (known as miniature stop lights) were installed at the crossing in 2003 to warn pedestrians of approaching trains. These lights are positioned on the far side of the crossing from an approaching user and facing them as they look across. The illumination of the red light indicates to pedestrians that they should ^stop^ and the crossing has a sign with an instruction not to cross if the red light is showing. The green light indicates to pedestrians that it is ^clear^ (ie safe to proceed). Instructions on the use of the crossing are displayed on signs on both sides of the railway.

The crossing is also provided with an audible alarm that sounds as trains approach.

The preliminary examination has revealed that the infrastructure manager, Network Rail, had recognised Johnson^s crossing as a high risk location. Consequently, prior to the accident, Network Rail, had commenced planning for the replacement of the crossing with a footbridge.

The investigation will identify the sequence of events that led to the accident. It will also include an examination of the factors that may have influenced the behaviour of the pedestrian, the history of the crossing, its design, operation and the management of the risk to users. In particular, it will review the risk assessments that were carried out and the actions that were taken in response to these.

The RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigations by the British Transport Police and the safety authority (the Office of Rail Regulation).

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.

[pbc2520]

Headphones. 

When walking home just an hour ago, I saw a child on a scooter, following his friend, scoot out to cross a road where there was stationary traffic waiting at a red light in the right hand lane.  The left lane had a green filter left.  An approaching car managed to stop and avoid knocking the child.  How did the child not see the car, even with its headlights on, at a range of about 10 metres?  Hood up.

People can detect movement even though they're not looking at it but a hood significantly narrows one's field of view.  (Try crossing the road with a hood up.)  I think they're just as problematic as headphones.  If people are just assuming that it is all right to cross, they need all their senses.  (Sound is dependent on e.g. wind direction, level of background noise.)  So the message should be "No hoods, no headphones."

[pbc2520]

I've just noticed that all accidents reported in this thread involve girls/women.  That could just be distorted reporting.  Those understanding the reasons behind the accidents would do well to consider the effects of longer hair on awareness, as well as hoods.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch have now published their full report on this sad incident on their website:

Summary

At about 11:40 hrs on Saturday 28 January 2012, a train struck and fatally injured a pedestrian who was using Johnson^s footpath crossing, in Bishop^s Stortford, Hertfordshire.

The pedestrian started to walk over the crossing as a train was approaching, despite warnings provided by a red miniature stop light and an audible alarm, and crossed into the path of the train. The investigation found that proposals from various bodies to close Johnson^s footpath crossing before 2007 had not been translated into action.

In addition, Network Rail had not developed a proposal to install a footbridge to replace the crossing, after an analysis undertaken in 2007 had shown that the benefits of so doing would exceed the costs. Following a further cost-benefit analysis in 2010, a footbridge was in development and has since been installed; Johnson^s footpath crossing was closed on 1 August 2012.

The RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) has made three recommendations to Network Rail, one of which requires consultation with RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board). These relate to an investigation into ways to make cost-effective improvements to the conspicuity of miniature stop light indications, to possible improvements in the visibility of approaching trains at level crossings equipped with miniature stop lights and to a review of options which had previously been identified for reducing risk at level crossings.

RIP Katie Littlewood