Paignton level crossing (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

I'm pretty sure that there is an offence of "obstructing the railway" or something very similar. You may even be able to call it "railway trespass" which is criminal and carried a maximum GBP1000 fine.

I've just noticed that American keyboards don't have a proper "pound" sign on them 

[The SprinterMeister]

Quite simple really.  The Paignton driver was only charge with failing to comply with a red traffic light = a fairly minor motoring offence.  The Crawley driver was charged with dangerous driving - a very serious motoring offence.  The difference is in the charges and not the sentence.  There was another recent case north of Peterborough where the driver was also charged with dangerous driving and received a prison sentence.

Is there not a railway-specific offense that sometimes gets used "obstructing the path of an engine or carriage" or something?

'Endangering the Saftey of Persons Conveyed on the Railway' (offences against the person act 18xx) is the one I think you are thinking of.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Specifically, Section 32 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, I think you'll find. 

32. Placing wood, &c., on a railway, with intent to endanger passengers.
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously put or throw upon or across any railway any wood, stone, or other matter or thing, or shall unlawfully and maliciously take up, remove, or displace any rail, sleeper, or other matter or thing belonging to any railway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously turn, move, or divert any points or other machinery belonging to any railway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously make or show, hide or remove, any signal or light upon or near to any railway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously do or cause to be done any other matter or thing, with intent, in any of the cases aforesaid, to endanger the safety of any person travelling or being upon such railway, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for life ^ or to be imprisoned ^

... 'to be kept in penal servitude for life' ... those were the days, eh? 

[devon_metro]

Where do you find this stuff, Chris!

[Chris from Nailsea]

As I may have suggested on this forum previously ... Chris knows things ... 

[plymothian]

Any details of the failure of the level crossing at Paignton station today?

[devon_metro]

Torbay Road closed apparently!

[signalandtelegraph]

Techs found large crack in one of the barrier booms whilst carrying out routine maintenance.  Was deemed safer to keep them in the down position (and keep trains running) rather than have it potentially break later and affect both road and rail traffic.  Booked in order around 1420. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Paignton People:

It will cost just ^1.50 to park all day in Paignton's Victoria multi-storey car park while a new level crossing is being installed next to the railway station.

Network Rail is upgrading the signalling and infrastructure on the Paignton branch line, and this work will involve installing a new crossing.

Although train services will not be disrupted, the level crossing gates will have to remain locked shut for safety reasons.

Torbay Road will be closed from 10pm on Saturday, January 28 to 5am on Monday, February 13 whilst Amey Rail engineers carry out the level crossing work.

Cllr Robert Excell said: "We recognise that this improvement scheme will cause inconvenience because the crossing will have to be closed to vehicles and pedestrians, although the footbridge will remain open.

"We are keen to do what we can to encourage people to continue coming to Paignton so we hope that by offering ^1.50 all day parking in Victoria car park will help."

A vehicle diversion route will be signed, and there will be a footpath route for pedestrians. Assistance will be given at the crossing to people with a disability who are unable to use either the footbridge or the footpath route.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Paignton railway level crossing closure angers traders

Plans to close the level crossing in Paignton for two weeks have upset businesses in the town.

Network Rail is installing a new crossing, additional lights and upgrading signalling.

When the crossing closes at 22:00 GMT on Saturday, local traders in Torbay Road fear they will be "cut off" from the town.

Network Rail said the work was essential and it would be unsafe to keep the crossing open.

The level crossing is due to reopen on 13 February.

Matthew Dart, from Torbay Town Centres Company, said: "When the crossing goes down it will effectively cut Torbay Road off from the town."

He said the alternative foot bridge access for pedestrians was unsuitable for disabled people, anyone with restricted mobility and mothers with prams.

Network Rail's contractor, Amey Rail, has also been criticised by traders who were given less than 10 days notice about the closure.

Carol Palmer-Ley from Scoffs Fish and Chips received a letter from Amey about the closure on Thursday.

"It's health and safety, so there's nothing to be done, but to be told only two days before I think is pretty bad," she said.

Mr Dart said with more time, businesses could have attempted to persuade Network Rail to keep part of the crossing open and close Paignton train station.

"We accept the work needs to be done, but there were alternative ways of managing the footfall," he said.

"In the past the line's been kept open, by stopping trains coming in to Paignton station and bussing passengers to Torquay."

But Network Rail, which owns the land, said the machinery needed to carry out the work meant leaving any part of the the crossing was not an option.

"Safety is always the number one priority and we won't take chances on any level in relation to public safety," spokesman Jon Crampton said.

"The work has been planned to minimise disruption as much as possible but we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"Local residents and businesses have been contacted and short diversions will be in place for motorists, pedestrians and wheelchair users."

Some traders said they would consider claiming compensation if they experienced a loss of trade.

Mark Hamilton, from 100% Health, said: "This could be the final nail in the coffin for some retailers, I believe."

[devon_metro]

Closing Paignton station would close the whole branch, since there is nowhere else to reverse trains.

Sure they won't loose much money down Torbay Rd anyway since it is mainly grockel shops many of which close down over winter!