Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 12:55 17 Mar 2025
 
- Small electric cars were said to be the future – but SUVs now rule the road
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 19/03/25 - WWRUG AGM
19/03/25 - Forum offline 00:00 - 02:00
21/03/25 - TravelWatch SouthWest
27/03/25 - MetroWest -> Wiltshire event

On this day
17th Mar (2018)
~ Research into use of TVMs (*)

Train RunningCancelled
11:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
11:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading
18/03/25 06:19 Par to Plymouth
19/03/25 06:19 Par to Plymouth
Short Run
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
10:50 Penzance to Cardiff Central
10:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
Delayed
10:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:48 London Paddington to Swansea
10:53 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill
11:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
12:05 London Paddington to Penzance
12:17 Westbury to Swindon
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 17, 2025, 12:57:59 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[95] Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on fo...
[75] 2025 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
[50] RMT balloting for Industrial action on GWR
[48] Extra trains for the six Nations, 15.3.2025
[46] Plan for M4 to south coast corridor to avoid Bath, through Wes...
[44] Great British Railways
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Sad death of Shirley Pope, 82, and her dog, hit by train on foot crossing at Pewsey, Feb 2025  (Read 235 times)
hoover50
Full Member
***
Posts: 94


Class 50 at Swindon


View Profile Email
« on: Yesterday at 13:19:56 »

https://www.newvalleynews.co.uk/news/outstanding-member-of-the-community-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-train-inquest-report/

This was such a tragic death which could have been avoided.

Network Fail urgently need to fix the bridge AND improve safety at the rail crossing which has no warning lights or sirens despite having very limited visibility.

I often use this crossing and express trains from Paddington come hurtling round the corner at 100mph. Once you see a train you have only three seconds to cross over. Trains should sound their horn on approach to the crossing, but they don't always do so.
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13217


View Profile Email
« Reply #1 on: Yesterday at 13:28:08 »

Awful - but the ultimate result is that the crossing will be closed.

Is it a footbridge, or a road bridge that has the fault/s? And what is the problem that needs fixing?
« Last Edit: Yesterday at 13:49:56 by ChrisB » Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43611



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 13:46:03 »

https://www.newvalleynews.co.uk/news/outstanding-member-of-the-community-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-train-inquest-report/

This was such a tragic death which could have been avoided.

Network Fail urgently need to fix the bridge AND improve safety at the rail crossing which has no warning lights or sirens despite having very limited visibility.

I often use this crossing and express trains from Paddington come hurtling round the corner at 100mph. Once you see a train you have only three seconds to cross over. Trains should sound their horn on approach to the crossing, but they don't always do so.

Thank you for posting that. I'm adding quote from that article, which reported on a coroners's hearing so that we have recorded the context here too. As the court was adjourned to a later date, no conclusion has yet been reached.

Quote
Pewsey is in mourning after an 82-year-old pensioner and her pet dog were killed by an express train while walking across a public level crossing.

Outstanding member of the community’ Shirley Pope had been walking on the crossing because a nearby bridge she normally used 80 yards away in Pewsey, Wiltshire, was closed for urgent safety repairs.

A member of the public spotted her body after the train had sped by.

The bridge was shut last autumn, and the repair work had still not been carried out.

Locals have said the tragedy should never have occurred.

Top Wiltshire Councillor Jerry Kunkler stressed: ”This is a tragic accident. It is very upsetting. We have lost an outstanding member of our community.”

[snip]

British Transport Police said crime had been ruled out.

[snip]

An inquest at Salisbury, Wiltshire was told Shirley Pope 82 from Pewsey was walking across a public level crossing in Pewsey on February 26 [2025] when she was struck by a train.

A member of the public called the police after seeing her body.

She died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries and was identified by finger prints.

Death was confirmed by paramedics at 1427 hours.

The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
hoover50
Full Member
***
Posts: 94


Class 50 at Swindon


View Profile Email
« Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 14:01:45 »

Awful - but the ultimate result is that the crossing will be closed.

Is it a footbridge, or a road bridge that has the fault/s? And what is the problem that needs fixing?

This recent video from Danny Kruger (the Member of Parliament for Pewsey) gives more context about the footbridge and rail crossing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAPxV1qvviI
Logged
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 19420



View Profile Email
« Reply #4 on: Yesterday at 15:15:15 »

An image of the crossing itself - from New Valley News:



CfN.  Sad
Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 19420



View Profile Email
« Reply #5 on: Yesterday at 19:21:31 »

Thank you for posting this very sad topic, hoover50.

I've simply expanded the heading, in the interest of clarity, for ease of future reference.

CfN.  Lips sealed
Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43611



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #6 on: Yesterday at 19:57:26 »

To help me get my head around this, I looked up that part of Pewsey on a map.   It is to the east of the village, which is to the south, with a small cluster of houses located north of the railway only accessible via Hollybush Lane and that foot crossing.

The foot crossing is at the other end of that scattering of houses, hence no picture even in Danny Kruger's video showing the relationship.

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1880


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: Today at 08:53:47 »

Openstreetmap's useful for this. For one under railway ownership, it's a very singular footbridge.

It's also an instance of a formerly rural location that now has a lot of housing, with, perhaps, little thought to the burden on walking routes**. Looking on old OS (Ordnance Survey) mapping, the footbridge has been there from the off, but no ordnance survey mapping marks the descending spur to the road, despite that an old GSV image suggests that it's a built component of the set-up there.

Mark

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.344990/-1.762909

** Made me think of that foot crossing on the Westbury avoiding line too. Another that's found itself amid housing. And probably many other examples...
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43611



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #8 on: Today at 09:05:27 »

** Made me think of that foot crossing on the Westbury avoiding line too. Another that's found itself amid housing. And probably many other examples...

The Westbury avoider now has lights that warn you if a train is coming making a comparison with Pewsey (which I've seen only from the recent article photos and comments) and that crossing should be much safER.  Whether it is "totaly safe" ... I leave open. I am aware of other deaths on crossings within memory at Bedwyn and between Westbury and Trowbridge
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 13217


View Profile Email
« Reply #9 on: Today at 09:22:54 »

Openstreetmap's useful for this. For one under railway ownership, it's a very singular footbridge.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.344990/-1.762909

But that shows it to be a rail over footway, rather than correctly as footway over rail
Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7407


View Profile
« Reply #10 on: Today at 10:34:15 »

Openstreetmap's useful for this. For one under railway ownership, it's a very singular footbridge.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.344990/-1.762909

But that shows it to be a rail over footway, rather than correctly as footway over rail

There is also a small wooden footbridge over the same lane (Hollybush Lane), 20 m from the railway. And oddly, it's owned by NR» (Network Rail - home page) and got its "Railway Authority" plate to prove it. But I can't fathom what that, or any other footbridge, has to do with crossing the railway near here. A key piece of information is missing.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 43611



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #11 on: Today at 10:59:58 »

A key piece of information is missing.

Yes - I do not believe we have the full story here; various things don't add up.

I am very gingerly speculating ... a lot of people walk around and to and from the village in Pewsey, and the typical route is along footpaths and over that wooden footbridge on Hollybush Lane before the dropping down to the lane itself and they go under the bridge on the lane.   With the footbridge closed, they are left with the options of either a long walk around to then come up Hollybush lane from the main road to the south, or taking the alternative path / level crossing over the railway.

Block one route, and people will diversity to the next easiest - which is the pedestrian crossing; there remain other alternatives, but for people on foot they are more substantial diversions.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1880


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: Today at 11:26:54 »

If you're using a foot crossing on foot, it's useful to consider if you're what the railway might call an 'Encumbered' pedestrian - for example, if you're carrying something, wheeling a bike, have a dog, carrying a canoe, accompanied by a child or have a pushchair (or both) and if you are, it's useful to know to risk-assess that aspect of things before proceeding.

(Photo is a footpath crossing at Coates on the approach to Sapperton)

Mark

https://postimg.cc/1VQGRjKs/f6b26b41
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page