Obstruction on the line between Bath Spa and Westbury - 12th Nov

[whole diary]

[Graz]

"Train services between Bath Spa and Westbury are being disrupted due to an obstruction on the line.", this seemed to happen today (wednesday 12th november). but I had no problems today on my early trains. Now all trains north and south seem to be cancelled on that stretch. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[grahame]

"""Train services between Bath Spa and Westbury are being disrupted due to an obstruction on the line.Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected. After an incident at a road crossing train services are expected to be disrupted for at least two hours. Replacement road transport is now in place. """

[tramway]

Just a brief update and limited to 'rumour control' rules.

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) waterloo service struck a car just outside Bath around the Bathampton Junction area, it took me nearly 4 hours to get to Filton.

Other services were having problems as well, I believe, even before the incident, but I was travelling on the slightly delayed 09.00 which got as far as just outside Avoncliffe where it was decided to terminate. Imagine the prospect of full 3 car load of passengers at Avoncliffe station. 

We reversed into BoA^» (Bradford-on-Avon - next trains) where we waited very patiently for a coach to Bath, which had to come form Bristol  South Gloc coach . Why aren't other coach companies in the West Wilts area available for this sort of event?

More to follow when I get the opportunity.

And here it is

[G.Uard]

I heard the emergency NRN^▸ (National Radio Network) broadcast at around 09:30.  A SWT^▸ (South West Trains) unit struck the van on Glass's Crossing as reported.  Line was clear by midday, but the  'residual delays' took a while to sort out.  I was out to play elsewhere and missed all the fun, but from what a colleague tells me, it is lucky that there were no tragic consequences.  There is a telephone at Glass's Crossing BTW^▸ (by the way).

[Graz]

I heard the driver of the van was arrested for dangerous driving, I hope he gets what's coming to him. 

[Timmer]

Updated article from the Bath Chronicle which now includes quotes from the van driver involved in the accident:
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/travelandtransport/Train-hits-car-Bath-level-crossing/article-468453-detail/article.html

[G.Uard]

According to the current Highway Code s269, a road user should,  "open the gates or barriers on both sides of the crossing".  Something which Mr Saunders, (who  is a local), admits that he failed to do. (See article). It would be wrong to  comment further as this is now a police matter, but I wonder how many times per day this simple rule is flouted.

[super tm]

So it seems that what happened is that he drove half way across the crossing  STOPPED in the middle of the tracks got out to open the other gate and got back in the car - and he is surprised a train came through in the meantime

One word applies I am afraid  - Idiot

[Chris from Nailsea]

Some useful video footage of the scene of the incident, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7725673.stm

[Timmer]

UPDATE:
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/travelandtransport/Driver-cleared-blocking-level-crossing/article-1313565-detail/article.html

A pensioner accused of blocking a level crossing with his van near his Bathampton home was yesterday cleared of the offence - three days before he was due to stand trial.

Handyman Alan Saunders had been negotiating the single track crossing in his red Volkswagen when its bonnet was struck by a commuter train travelling at 60mph last year.

Mr Saunders, of Warminster Road, Bathampton had been due to stand trial for the offence on Monday, but investigations into the incident revealed other people in the area had had problems with the crossing too.