Man dies at Stoke Canon level crossing and related incidents - 28 Mar 2019

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/person-dies-after-car-hit-2694158.amp

It looks from RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) to have been the Exeter to Bristol Parkway local stopper

[jamestheredengine]

The National Rail website is currently offering the following brilliant advice:

Alternative travel options:

CrossCountry customers may also use their tickets on the following services:
[...]
Great Western Railway between Penzance and Bristol Temple Meads

[...]

Great Western Railway customers may use their tickets on the following services
[...]
CrossCountry between Penzance and Bristol Temple Meads

[SandTEngineer]

But in fairness I suppose that means that you could use any train between Penzance and Bristol (via the Mule) and not have to wait for a specific train that might be cancelled.

[LiskeardRich]

Simply means they’ve removed toc specific restrictions

[plymothian]

The National Rail website is currently offering the following brilliant advice:

Alternative travel options:

CrossCountry customers may also use their tickets on the following services:
[...]
Great Western Railway between Penzance and Bristol Temple Meads

[...]

Great Western Railway customers may use their tickets on the following services
[...]
CrossCountry between Penzance and Bristol Temple Meads

Well yes it is true, its not only going to affect the blocked area, all Intercity trains to Devon and Cornwall orginate from north of Taunton.

If you have a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) ticket between Bristol and Exeter, you can use a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) divereted via Yeovil, or a GWR RRB^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus).  
If you have a GWR ticket between Exeter and Plymouth, you can use a XC train that has been turned short.

Basically, while things are up shit creek, use any train that comes along.

[phile]

From Devon Live https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/devon-trains-live-cancelled-exeter-2693842

A train ready to leave the station (Image: Penny Cross)

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All Devon trains are being cancelled or delayed on Thursday morning as emergency services deal with an incident on the line.

Great Western Railway reports a person has been hit by a train.

All services have been stopped on the line between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton after an incident this morning.

Police and other emergency services are currently at the scene and rail operating companies have told passengers to expect delays.

We will bring you live updates as we get them.


07:01
GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) latest

GWR Help
✔
@GWRHelp
 ⚠️ A person has been hit by a train between #ExeterStDavids and #TivertonParkway and all lines between the two stations are currently blocked. Updates to follow.

4
6:44 AM - Mar 28, 2019
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06:58
Latest advice

CrossCountry trains
✔
@CrossCountryUK
 Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed.

For individual service updates, please see http://journeycheck.com/crosscountry

3
6:21 AM - Mar 28, 2019
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06:57
All trains stopped
GWR says a person has been hit by a train

PHBT was in a car

[James Vertigan]

Thank goodness the set remained railed. Always a worry considering what happened at Ufton Nervet.

Thoughts of course with the family of the deceased and with the crew of the set involved.

[bobm]

Welcome back James, despite the circumstances.

I believe the problem at Ufton Nervet was the train derailed on a set of points immediately after the crossing at the entrance to the goods loop.   Thankfully at Stoke Canon the crossing is on a piece of plain line.

[LiskeardRich]

Looks like it’s being  linked to various other incidents in Devon involving the railway this morning.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/man-20s-killed-live-exeter-2695637

Police have confirmed a man in his early 20s died after a car was hit by a train in Devon on Thursday morning.

British Transport Police say a 23-year-old man from Exeter was pronounced dead at the scene at a level crossing in Stoke Canon on Thursday morning.

His family have been informed, and the death is not currently being treated as suspicious, however officers continue to make inquiries to establish the full circumstances leading to the vehicle and man being struck by a train.

Police say that following this incident, three further incidents were brought to the attention of officers within the proximity of Stoke Canon.

This includes a train striking objects at Newton St Cyres and at Crannaford, as well as a line-side fire at Eggesford.

All four incidents are being treated as linked, although at this time officers are not tracing anyone else in connection.

[SandTEngineer]

Not wishing to speculate but Stoke Cannon is a full barrier level crossing controlled by CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) from Exeter Panel. So if a car is involved then it must have been a very deliberate action or a very unfortunate set of circumstances just outside the barriers, and that would explain the long line closure.  The train involved was one of the GTi sets.

The photographs emerging show no damage to the level crossing equipment.  I therefore suspect (and its just my own opinion) that the car was driven off the level crossing when the barriers were up, onto the tracks outside of the range of the level crossing CCTV system.  Time will tell.  I think we were very lucky the train didn't derail as it appears to have pushed the car nearly half a mile along the track before coming to rest.

[JayMac]

The incidents are now all being linked by the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) and reported in the press. Scenes of crime officers are at the various locations and BTP have stated they are not looking for anyone else.


Mods, I think it safe to merge this topic with the one covering the incident at Stoke Canon LC^▸ (Level Crossing).

[TonyK]

I agree with merging the two, but shall have to let someone else do it. I am at a hotel at Heathrow with only tablet or phone to connect.
There are also a couple of new posts in the Eggesford Station thread that are relevant.

[grahame]

I agree with merging the two, but shall have to let someone else do it. I am at a hotel at Heathrow with only tablet or phone to connect.
There are also a couple of new posts in the Eggesford Station thread that are relevant.

Thanks for that challenge ... I have merged today's two new threads (you are reading the merged thread here) an I'm going to add a note that the Eggesford comments are at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2227.msg261337#msg261337 ... I will add a link there to here.

[LiskeardRich]

Not wishing to speculate but Stoke Cannon is a full barrier level crossing controlled by CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) from Exeter Panel. So if a car is involved then it must have been a very deliberate action or a very unfortunate set of circumstances just outside the barriers, and that would explain the long line closure.  The train involved was one of the GTi sets.

The photographs emerging show no damage to the level crossing equipment.  I therefore suspect (and its just my own opinion) that the car was driven off the level crossing when the barriers were up, onto the tracks outside of the range of the level crossing CCTV system.  Time will tell.  I think we were very lucky the train didn't derail as it appears to have pushed the car nearly half a mile along the track before coming to rest.

Your theory is identical to mine!

The deceased also appears to have had  internal knowledge.

[Pb_devon]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Spotlight has run this as the lead item, with footage from the scene including the train. Once the programme has finished it will be available on iplayer for 24 hours.