Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 17:35 04 May 2024
- 'Shocking' - Women from Wales have to travel to England for abortions
- Will John Swinney change the SNP’s fortunes?
- Women from Wales have to travel to England for abortions
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 18/05/24 - BRTA Westbury
22/05/24 - WWRUG / TransWilts update
02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber

On this day
4th May (1951)
Festival of Britain opens to public (*)

Train RunningCancelled
16:32 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa
17:48 Great Malvern to London Paddington
18:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
20:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol Temple Meads
22:02 London Paddington to Bristol Parkway
05/05/24 00:22 Guildford to Gatwick Airport
Short Run
13:50 Penzance to Cardiff Central
15:13 Hereford to London Paddington
15:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
17:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
23:08 London Paddington to Didcot Parkway
23:23 Gatwick Airport to Guildford
05/05/24 06:12 Gatwick Airport to Guildford
Delayed
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
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
May 04, 2024, 17:44:36 *
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
[200] Something different !
[190] Learning in Spain, and learning lessons back for the UK
[63] Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations (merged topic)
[58] Walking between stations
[57] Just how big is the gap to mind?
[48] Severn Tunnel emergency closure, 2nd May 2024.
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5
  Print  
Author Topic: Level crossing collisions at Sandy Lane, Yarnton - merged topic  (Read 64639 times)
SandTEngineer
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3485


View Profile
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2013, 18:34:32 »

The Michael Crick article seems to say the "fault" is that the barriers stay down too long i.e preventing road vehicles from moving forward.  If so then this is if anything a "fail safe".

What absolute tosh.  For an AHBC (Automatic Half Barrier Crossing) the road closure time is a minimum of 29 seconds and worse case (for two trains with the first striking out just as the second strikes in is 29+10+29=68 seconds).  It may be slightly longer if the trains are not running at linespeed but the normal calculations are based upon 80% of trains arriving within the 29 seconds.  I don't think that the train passing time is likely to add much to that (depends on train length) so say worse case is crossing closed for 90 seconds.

Edit to add some extra comments: My professional experience shows that most AHBC level crossings are only closed to road traffic for around 45 seconds at the most at any one time (accepted that the number of closures may follow each other quite closely, a minimum of 10 seconds apart).  As we have debated many times before on this forum, level crossings are safe if used properly (would you cross a red light at a road junction??).

Despite what I have said here my sympathy still goes out to the family who lost a dear loved one (and to the train driver to whom it must have been quite a shock).
« Last Edit: January 02, 2013, 19:59:34 by SandTEngineer » Logged
Andy W
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 267



View Profile Email
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2013, 18:35:26 »

f.y.i.

http://blogs.channel4.com/michael-crick-on-politics/technical-problems-for-years-at-oxfordshire-level-crossing-where-man-died/2084

Not really sure this is a technical problem appears to be inappropriate equipment.
Logged
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10125


View Profile
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2013, 18:48:20 »

What absolute tosh.  For an AHBC (Automatic Half Barrier Crossing) the road closure time is a minimum of 29 seconds and worse case (for two trains with the first striking out just as the second strikes in is 29+10+29=68 seconds).  It may be slightly longer if the trains are not running at linespeed but the normal calculations are based upon 80% of trains arriving within the 29 seconds.  I don't think that the train passing time is likely to add much to that (depends on train length) so say worse case is crossing closed for 90 seconds.

Indeed, and much quicker than at CCTV (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) or locally controlled full barrier crossings where several minutes is often the norm.
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6439


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #18 on: January 02, 2013, 19:17:20 »


Not really sure this is a technical problem appears to be inappropriate equipment.

Or inappropriate use of appropriate equipment. We will only know when the report into the accident is published.
Logged

Now, please!
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 17901


I am not railway staff


View Profile Email
« Reply #19 on: January 02, 2013, 20:21:22 »

Indeed: thanks for your restrained comments, everyone, in such sad circumstances.

I've moved and merged a couple of topics here, as the discussion was a duplication - purely in the interests of continuity and completeness, as always.

Hope this clarifies, 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.
mjones
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 408


View Profile
« Reply #20 on: January 02, 2013, 21:16:43 »

Michael Crick (Channel 4 news) has just put this on twitter

Michael Crick ‏@MichaelLCrick

Rail source tells me "technical problems for years" at Yarnton, Oxon level-crossing where man killed this pm. "I knew this would happen."


Network Rail & RAIB (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) will investigate but I really hope it is not true.

The Michael Crick article seems to say the "fault" is that the barriers stay down too long i.e preventing road vehicles from moving forward.  If so then this is if anything a "fail safe".


Yes, the implication of the blog seemed to be that the 'fault' means traffic is being delayed unnecessarily, thereby presumably encouraging people to take risks to avoid delay. Which is a rather strange interpretation of the 'cause' of an accident...
Logged
thetrout
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2612



View Profile
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2013, 08:46:21 »

(would you cross a red light at a road junction??).

Whilst it might not be the right thread to raise these comments as they may seem insenstive, for which I apologise in advance.

But it sometimes that very point comes down to person driving the vehicle. In some cases a pedestrian crossing the road/railway. (appreciated we don't know the full circumstances) In some cases even both and a prime example of that happened to me yesterday, When half way across a Pedestrian Crossing showing a Green Man. (It definitely was as there were several witnesses who confirmed that) Admittedly I had committed the awful sin of walking and cellphone talking. Whilst I was certainly aware of my surroundings, I was distracted by the phone call. The traffic to the right of me had stopped and I was half way across when a Young Female Driver (I'd say late teens and no derogatory comments r.e. female drivers implied) approaching from the left side was chatting to her friend in the passenger seat. I immediately became aware of this and so did she. Sadly, it was after she'd run the red light which resulted in me becoming a temporary Honda Hood Ornament Angry Fortunately she was doing no more than 15 mph.

On the relation to that subject I was talking to a BTP (British Transport Police) Officer about Level Crossings after his colleague didn't believe the story about the Bus Driver getting stuck on the crossing. He said to me one of the worst things you can say is: "I didn't see the lights, as that's driving without due care and attention"

Whilst I am certainly not implying or speculating that lack of attention was the case here. I was trying to sum up a general point of those lights and barriers are there for a reason. Also don't cross the road or railway whilst on a cellphone!
Logged

Grin Grin Grin Grin
BerkshireBugsy
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1640


Berkshire Bugsy Jr


View Profile
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2013, 09:40:18 »


Whilst it might not be the right thread to raise these comments as they may seem insenstive, for which I apologise in advance.


I agree with your sentiment - this is why I posted my original in "Frequent Posters" but understand the decision to move it elsewhere
Logged
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 17901


I am not railway staff


View Profile Email
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2013, 20:16:31 »

Thanks, BerkshireBugsy.

It is a very difficult decision, working out where best on this forum to place any discussion about an incident in which someone has died.

However, on balance, and provided our members post appropriately, I do think it's better to conduct any discussion in the public area of this forum - where our hopefully constructive comments and suggestions can reach a wider audience.

Chris.  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.
Oxman
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 423


View Profile
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2013, 20:28:21 »

BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Oxford reported tonight that NR» (Network Rail - home page) has stated that the crossing was working correctly at the time of the accident.
Logged
BerkshireBugsy
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1640


Berkshire Bugsy Jr


View Profile
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2013, 20:32:01 »

Thanks, BerkshireBugsy.

It is a very difficult decision, working out where best on this forum to place any discussion about an incident in which someone has died.

However, on balance, and provided our members post appropriately, I do think it's better to conduct any discussion in the public area of this forum - where our hopefully constructive comments and suggestions can reach a wider audience.

Chris.  Sad

No problem CfN - I certainly understand. I guess maybe I am over sensitive because I live fairly near ufton nervett and go past it every day on the train.
Logged
Andy W
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 267



View Profile Email
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2013, 21:16:16 »

http://www.btp.police.uk/latest_news/car_struck_by_train_yarnton.asp

Fyi
Logged
thetrout
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2612



View Profile
« Reply #27 on: January 04, 2013, 05:15:10 »


Link gives me a 404 error (Page not found) Sad

* Edit to add * Correct link is here: http://www.btp.police.uk/latest_news/car_struck_by_train_yarnton.aspx
Logged

Grin Grin Grin Grin
Andy W
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 267



View Profile Email
« Reply #28 on: January 04, 2013, 09:54:06 »

Hi The Trout .......... thanks for correcting my post and adding an x  Wink
Logged
stebbo
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 445


View Profile
« Reply #29 on: January 04, 2013, 21:23:38 »

I know the crossing pretty well and I've always regarded it as safe provided drivers observe the signals. As one of the site's members says, level crossings are safe unless used in an unsafe manner.

If the car driver attempted to weave round the barriers then that's asking for trouble. I suppose the answer is always to install full width barriers
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 [2] 3 4 5
  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 (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page