Two girls killed on level crossing at Elsenham (December 2005)

[whole diary]

[onthecushions]

I was using the "home signal on the railway" as an analogy of course, not as a reflection upon the driver.

Crossing users who ignore either the old red lozenges or today's flashing lights carry the responsibility for what happens, just as if they ignore "thin ice", "steep drop" or "high voltage" signs.

This is perhaps harder to justify for children and crossing wardens are often posted at the busiest school road crossings. Even the public are rarely aware of the scale of danger that large fast moving masses pose.

There are certainly many busy level crossings on fast routes that should be bridged. The limited program for this is one result of DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) legislation - and it costs lives.

A friend lost his 9 year old son under a car last Monday - it's heartbreaking.

OTC

[dviner]

I was using the "home signal on the railway" as an analogy of course, not as a reflection upon the driver.

Ah, that clears that up. Ta.

Crossing users who ignore either the old red lozenges or today's flashing lights carry the responsibility for what happens, just as if they ignore "thin ice", "steep drop" or "high voltage" signs.

This is perhaps harder to justify for children and crossing wardens are often posted at the busiest school road crossings. Even the public are rarely aware of the scale of danger that large fast moving masses pose.

It's getting to be a very common argument hat nowadays people are taking less responsibility for their own actions. Now I don't know if this is actually true, or if it just looks that way now that somebody has said it, and it's been repeated.

I was going to go off on a rant about Risk Assessments at this point, but in the end decided not to.

There are certainly many busy level crossings on fast routes that should be bridged. The limited program for this is one result of DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) legislation - and it costs lives.

Network Rail have a programme to reduce the number of level crossings. Bridging them is one option but it's not always going to be possible. For example - on the Marlow/Bourne End branch line there are four barriered level crossings - Furze Platt, Cookham and two around the Marina at Bourne End - and after Bourne End, there are about three or four uncontrolled crossings (i.e. have gates or stiles). I don't think that it's possible to put a pedestrian bridge in at any of the four barriered road crossings because there just isn't the room - bridges are big, but a DDA-compliant bridge that will allow wheelchairs to use it but does not have elevators is an enormous structure to cater for the shallow ramps and resting spots. Sorting out the roadways would be an even bigger headache.

A friend lost his 9 year old son under a car last Monday - it's heartbreaking.

OTC

Devastating all round.

[Chris from Nailsea]

A video report, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Mother's level crossing safety fight

Last month Network Rail was fined ^1m for criminal negligence following the deaths of two teenage girls at a level crossing in 2005.

Olivia Bazlington and Charlotte Thompson died at Elsenham station in Essex when they crossed the tracks thinking it was safe, and were hit by a train.

Since Olivia's death, her mother, Tina Hughes, has been working to improve their safety.

[JayMac]

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

Rail deaths: Mother says Network Rail were 'inhuman'

A mother whose daughter was killed by a train in Essex said the way Network Rail had spoken to her was "inhuman".

Friends Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, were hit by a train in December 2005 as they crossed the railway line at Elsenham station.

Olivia's mother Tina Hughes told the Transport Select Committee the firm said it had to "consider the cost of safety versus the value of life".

She said it was "an... inhuman way to speak to me as a bereaved parent".

The comment had been made to Ms Hughes weeks after her daughter's death.

Olivia's father, Chris Bazlinton, appearing alongside Ms Hughes, said he believed information about their deaths had been covered up in a "conspiracy of silence".

He told the committee inquiry into level crossings on Monday that Network Rail did not reveal a damning risk assessment carried out at Elsenham before the tragedy.

"I still want to know from the people at the top who are ultimately responsible why they withheld those documents and why I should believe it won't happen again."

'Life devastated'

The documents highlighting concerns at the crossing were not disclosed until 2010, and the firm was fined ^1m last year for health and safety breaches, with the judge concluding there had been "culpable corporate blindness".

Mr Bazlinton said he had received "shabby treatment" from Network Rail after the tragedy and added: "I happen to believe that not much has changed at Network Rail in the way that they treat these incidents."

Ms Hughes, who is advising Network Rail about crossing safety, told MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament): "I believe that they have made very significant changes but... there is a massive amount of work that needs to be done."

Laurence Hoggart, whose wife Jean, 56, and grandson Michael Dawson, seven, died on the pedestrian crossing in Bestwood Village in Nottinghamshire in November 2008, also gave evidence in a statement at the hearing.

"They wrote just one letter of apology, my solicitors discovered that the crossing was seen to be unsafe by Railtrack in 2000 and their advisers said a bridge should be built," he said.

Committee chairwoman Louise Ellman said it appeared from the evidence given by Mr Bazlinton and Mr Hoggart that in both the Elsenham and Bestwood incidents "Network Rail appeared to know that there was a problem but hadn't done anything about it".

In a statement, Network Rail said: "Nothing we can say or do will lessen the pain felt by the families of those killed or injured at level crossings but we have promised them that we are committed to making our railway as safe as possible and that remains our focus."

The company will be giving evidence to the committee at a later date.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Dangerous level crossings to close, says rail regulator

Around 500 level crossings will be closed and safety improved at hundreds more after rail regulators increased funding to Network Rail.

In its final draft of 2014-2019 rail funding, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) increased funding for level crossings by ^32m to a total of ^109m.

Nine people died on level crossings last year, more than double the year before.

Network Rail's overall funding was cut by ^1.7bn by the ORR.

The extra funding for level crossings comes a short time after the House of Commons Transport Committee heard about concerns over level crossing safety from the parents of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, who, with her friend Charlotte Thompson, was killed at a crossing at Elsenham in Essex in December 2005.

Network Rail was fined ^1m over the girls' deaths in 2012 after admitting health and safety breaches associated with the level crossing.

Olivia's mother Tina Hughes told BBC Breakfast the changes being made to level crossings would save lives. She said "many of the crossings in this country have got little protection on them" adding that such crossings represented the most danger to the public.

Network Rail said it had already closed 700 level crossings in the last five years and the extra funding would help it continue its work.

The safety measures being introduced at crossings that are not being closed include gates being installed, footbridges introduced, low-cost barriers and warning lights.

ORR chief executive Richard Price said Network Rail believed the measures would enable it to reduce the risk at level crossings by 25% compared to now. "Closing 500 level crossings is a pretty big deal in terms of the railway overall," he said.

[SandTEngineer]

....yes, and a little bit more misreporting on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) 1 o'clock news stating that the crossing behind the presenter was "Radar Controlled"......

[JayMac]

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

Network Rail apologises to families over level crossing deaths

Network Rail has offered a "full and unreserved apology" to families bereaved by level crossing accidents.

Chief executive Mark Carne apologised for "failings" in managing public safety and for "failing to deal sensitively" with affected families.

Risk at level crossings had been reduced by a quarter since 2010, the rail infrastructure company said.

The apology came as an MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament)' report strongly criticised Network Rail's (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) handling of tragedies in the past.

The House of Commons transport committee was particularly critical about the deaths of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, at Elsenham crossing, in Essex, in 2005.

NR was later fined ^1m for health and safety breaches in relation to the accident.

Mr Carne said that case had represented "a watershed in the way we thought about our approach to the risk at level crossings, and how we treat victims and their families".

He told the BBC he was "determined to change the culture" of NR, and said ^130m had been spent on improving level crossing safety since 2010.

He said: "Today, I wish to extend a full and unreserved apology on behalf of Network Rail to all those whose life has been touched by a failing, however large or small, made by this company in managing public safety at level crossings, and in failing to deal sensitively with the families affected. It was too easy in the past for the culture and the company to blame user misuse and not really look closely enough at our role in reducing the risk associated with those level crossings."

'Callous disregard'

Unveiling the transport committee's report, chairwoman Louise Ellman said Network Rail had lowered the risk of death at level crossings by 25% since 2008.

But she also said that on "too many occasions Network Rail showed a callous disregard for the feelings of the families of people killed" or injured at level crossings.

She told the BBC that she was "appalled" to hear "harrowing accounts" from bereaved families, who had been treated with what she termed "contempt" by NR.

Speaking about the description of victims as "trespassers" by NR, she said: "I can only think it was Network Rail not wanting to admit any liability, but it was inhumane, it was wrong and this must change."

And asked what she would say to Reg Thompson, the father of Elsenham victim Charlotte, she added: "Nothing can replace his lost daughter, what happened was very, very terrible, but I hope he can take some comfort in recognising that Network Rail are now formally apologising in a very full way, and that they are going to change."

Friends Charlotte and Olivia died after walking across the tracks through an unlocked wicket gate at the crossing in December 2005. They had already waited for one train to pass, but were struck by a second train bound for Stansted Airport, in Essex.

In February 2011, evidence emerged of a report that had recommended installation of new gates that locked automatically in 2002 - three years before the girls' deaths - but this was not done until the summer of 2007.

Mr Thompson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Network Rail showed the utmost disregard for the families to the point that they never contacted us, showed no concern or compassion at any point. They made it very clear they blamed Charlotte and Liv for their demise - up and until they were forced to acknowledge their own guilt more than six years after the accident."

So far in 2013-14 there have been seven "accidental fatalities" at crossings, and a further 12 collisions between road vehicles and trains, according to the Rail Safety and Standards Board.

In 2012-13 nine people - including four pedestrians and five people who were in a vehicle at the time - died in accidents at level crossings.

The safety work carried out at level crossings by NR includes building footbridges to replace crossings, installing power-operated gates and introducing spoken warnings. Almost 800 crossings have been closed in that time.


'Please let this be over'

Reg Thompson - father of crossing accident victim, Charlotte, 13 - told the BBC:

"I still find it very difficult to understand how Network Rail failed to consider the feelings of any of the families involved.

"Now eight years and three months after Charlotte and Liv were killed, I gather from reading the transcript of the select committee report that Mr Carne is going to make a full and unreserved apology.

"Network Rail showed the utmost disregard for the families to the point that they never contacted us, showed no concern or compassion at any point.

"They made it very clear they blamed Charlotte and Liv for their demise - up and until they were forced to acknowledge their own guilt more than six years after the accident.

"All I can say is that last night when I discovered you wanted to speak to me, my eldest son said to me: 'Daddy, please let this be over.'

"My daughter died over eight years ago and still this goes on, and it goes on because of Network Rail's behaviour."

Included with this news item are two interviews, one with Mark Carne from Network Rail, the other with Reg Thompson, father of one of the victims at Elsenham.

The Transport Select Committee's report can be found at the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmtran/680/680.pdf

[JayMac]

From ITV News:

Honour for rail safety campaigner who lost her daughter

A mother who's dedicated her life to improving rail safety after her teenage daughter died on a level crossing in Essex has been honoured.

Tina Hughes lost her daughter Olivia Bazlington in 2005 when she and her friend Charlotte Thompson were hit by a train as they walked over the train tracks at Elsenham in Essex. Olivia was 14, Charlotte was 13. Mrs Hughes has been made an MBE for her campaign to improve safety on crossings.

It was such a surprise and such a nice thing for Network Rail to do. I've been bursting to tell them. It's such an honour. It's because I do work with Network Rail to change attitudes and improve safety on level crossings. The change that has come across is phenomenal. And the passion people are showing is lovely.

"It's poignant. None of this would have happened if Olivia would have been alive. I would much rather she was still here but, because I can't change what happened in the past, I was really pleased to work with Network Rail to make these changes. And now it's such a lovely thing that's happening. When we go to receive the honour, my other daughter, Stevie, will be coming with me." ^ TINA HUGHES