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Title: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Lee on December 22, 2009, 15:32:40 From the South Wales Argus: (http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/4815301.Anger_over_rail_fence_gap/)
Quote from: South Wales Argus Anger over rail fence gap A gap in a railway line fence needs to be blocked off as soon as possible to stop children from running across the tracks during the holidays, a councillor warns. Councillor James Harris and Monmouthshire Council have called for Network Rail to fix a gap in a fence at Mill Reen in Undy, which they say is being used by children to walk across the tracks. The company has placed a temporary mesh fence on the site, but Cllr Harris said a large gap remains. Network Rail told Monmouthshire Council, which has advised the Health and Safety Executive of the situation, that it can not install a permanent fence until March 13. Councillor Harris told the Argus the fencing usually stops people from accessing the railway line, which carries high speed traffic to the Severn Tunnel. He^s worried the site is an accident waiting to happen over the school holidays. ^It^s wrong, March is a fair old length of time to wait to have this sorted,^ he said. He said the mesh, installed by Network Rail last week, only covers the culvert and that the railway tracks are still accessible from either side. A spokeswoman said the council raised concerns about the delay in light of the school holidays, and said there is clear evidence the area is being accessed by children. ^We^ve advised the HSE of the situation and we have contacted Network Rail on a number of occasions to bring the date forward,^ she said. A Network Rail spokeswoman said a temporary fence has been installed at the location, while a survey of the area is also taking place before a permanent fence is installed. "Those who have witnessed any trespassers and vandals in the act are encouraged to ring the transport police," she said. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: devon_metro on December 22, 2009, 16:57:16 Why not just make sure the kids don't cross the line. There wouldn't be a problem if the issue was tackled at its heart. Slap any trespassers with the full ^1000 penalty (or is it ^2000?) - would soon teach any trespassers a lesson.
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Electric train on December 22, 2009, 17:02:33 If a Local Authority has such grave concerns they have a duty to take action, I suspect this is a Councilor throwing Teddy's out of his pram ...... is there local elections coming up this year in that area?
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: unfarepayingpassenger on April 12, 2010, 20:30:43 If anyone is killed or injured it will be blamed on Network Rail for failing to take sufficient action. It won't matter who is really at fault!
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on April 12, 2010, 20:47:54 the council should put up a fence now and charge it to network rail.... as for the education route well that will do little good when a kid runs across and dies
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: johoare on April 12, 2010, 22:10:56 Why don't the parents stop the children doing it in the first place?
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Btline on April 12, 2010, 22:13:58 They should put a HARD HITTING advert out, none of this namby pamby rubbish like NR's last level crossing advert.
You need to be blunt and preferably some stomach churning images. And then slap FULL fines, as D/M says, onto trespassers. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: eightf48544 on April 12, 2010, 22:32:15 Just come back from Germany, just watched passengers usually teenagers get of the train jump down a cross the line and exit station.
Now in both cases the line was the loop and in one case definitely disued but in the other may have been in use. However it seemed to be standard way out for them For those of you that don't know one standard German station layout is 2 through platforms and a loop accessible to/form both directions so a stopping train in either direction can be put in the loop and an ICE or IC . overtake. Also of course low platforms and no boundary fences. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: devon_metro on April 12, 2010, 23:11:40 There seem to be two ways to look at it.
Completely barrier all accesuble areas and take the rap when things go wrong; Or Give people responsibility to make the decision for themselves with only basic protection at more vulnerable areas, and in the event of any problems the railway is not at fault. We seem to have strayed from the later to the former in recent times! Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on April 12, 2010, 23:34:06 There is also the issue of ... Well I won't swear but undesirables gaining access to steal equipment lay stuff on tracks play chicken or the other possible jumpers blocking off as many entrances as possible removes the temptation what ever the thinking or motive behind it is
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: johoare on April 12, 2010, 23:36:05 What are these peoples parents thinking of? Let alone what are these people thinking of...
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: devon_metro on April 12, 2010, 23:54:36 It does seem odd doesn't it?
Never once in my teenage years have I been tempted to trespass on railway lines/steal equipment and I wouldn't class my upbringing as anything out of the ordinary. Brings home some of the clear social issues that exist in this country. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: johoare on April 12, 2010, 23:59:44 Well yes I tend to agree..
My children have had it instilled in them to go nowhere near the railway line even if their friends want them to... And there is plenty of opportunity in Maidenhead since the trains go right through the middle of it :-) Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: matt473 on April 13, 2010, 00:30:11 Sadly a gap or not in a rail fence will make no difference. You would be surprised how many people assume no trains run at all. I have lived in a South Wales town called Ammanford for many years on the Heart of Wales line and there are many people both young and old that use it as a walkway as they still refuse to accept trains run along the line despite having proper fencing all along the route. Worse still there is a branh line that diverts of the line nearby up the Amman Valley to serve a local coal mine that now sees a freight train travel along it every other day and children regularly play on the line despite Network Rail sending a letter to all local schools to inform children that trains are running on the line and to keep away for safety. Despite this people still of course use the railway as a walkway as a shortcut home.
As I have been taught and everyone should be, if a railway line is in place, assume a train will use it otherwise why else would it be there? Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Tim on April 13, 2010, 09:22:11 the council should put up a fence now and charge it to network rail.... as for the education route well that will do little good when a kid runs across and dies A non-starter I think. Council can't put up a fence on NR land and if it did its workers would be trespassers themselves and possibly in danger. All the Council can do is appeal to NR which is what it is doing. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Tim on April 13, 2010, 09:36:57 Just come back from Germany, just watched passengers usually teenagers get of the train jump down a cross the line and exit station. Now in both cases the line was the loop and in one case definitely disued but in the other may have been in use. However it seemed to be standard way out for them For those of you that don't know one standard German station layout is 2 through platforms and a loop accessible to/form both directions so a stopping train in either direction can be put in the loop and an ICE or IC . overtake. Also of course low platforms and no boundary fences. They don't seem to bother with fencing very much in Germany. You will often see people walking cycling or playing on paths and fields with no fence between them and the track. And at stations it is often possible to drive from the car park onto the track. In Munich there are many places were the railway runs near blocks of flats. The flats are surounded by well maintained communal gardens and grass with a childrens sandpit or climbing frame which is positioned perhaps 40 yards from the unfenced line. You could draw the conclusion that Germans are just so sensible and law abiding that they don;t need fences, but I have observed not just teenagers but respectable looking commuters cross the line at S-bahn stations to reach the car park without using the subway so I don;t know what the difference is. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: paul7575 on April 13, 2010, 09:52:52 According to a BTP bloke I spoke to a few years ago, (the train was delayed sitting at Cosham IIRC, waiting to head into Portsmouth) most of the gaps in fences at trespass hot spots are made by adults carrying the appropriate tools such as spanners, bolt cutters, shears etc.
Usually the gaps are re-cut a few nights after the fence is first installed or repaired... Paul Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Phil on April 13, 2010, 10:06:17 If that's the case (and I don't for one moment doubt it), wouldn't it be more cost effective to erect a pedestrian bridge than have to keep replacing fences, and possibly the risk of being sued by some entirely innocent person who happened to stumble through a hole in the fence and trip onto the track whilst carrying bolt cutters?
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: grahame on April 13, 2010, 13:16:03 .... but I have observed not just teenagers but respectable looking commuters cross the line at S-bahn stations to reach the car park without using the subway so I don;t know what the difference is. The difference isn't all that much; we have four public footpaths crossing a line along which trains travel at speed within the Melksham area. No warnings - just "Stop - look - listen" boards. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6549.msg65054#msg65054 And we DO stop, look, listen .. then cross quickly. Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: paul7575 on April 13, 2010, 14:33:24 If that's the case (and I don't for one moment doubt it), wouldn't it be more cost effective to erect a pedestrian bridge than have to keep replacing fences, I think the stretch in question has enough normal crossing points, both footbridges and road bridges - it seems that some members of the public want even more. Can't see a solution to be honest, if people can't be bothered to walk a few hundred yards away from the direct 'bee-line'... IYSWIM Paul Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: inspector_blakey on April 13, 2010, 17:55:00 Just to inject a bit of (probably unjustified and slightly tasteless) levity into this thread, spotted the linked post on Railway Eye (http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2010/04/monkey-about-on-railway-at-your-peril.html) this morning...
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on April 13, 2010, 19:59:38 dont you just love our country ::)
Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Chris from Nailsea on April 13, 2010, 21:41:39 From the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8618548.stm):
Quote Missing monkey captured in Cumbrian church A missing South American monkey has been recaptured in a church, five days after escaping from an enclosure at a Cumbrian wild animal park. The small Capuchin went missing from the South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton on 8 April. Park staff called in police, fearing for the animal's safety. The monkey was spotted close to Dalton Railway Station on Tuesday and eventually recaptured when it ran into a nearby church. A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Following numerous sightings, the monkey was spotted near the Dalton Railway Station on Tuesday. Police along with wildlife park staff followed the creature, which initially went into gardens around Anticross, then crossed into Dalton Cemetery. In the cemetery, police and park staff were able to contain and capture the monkey when it ran into one of the old churches. It has now been safely returned to the zoo." Capuchins are native to the Amazon basin, about 20ins (51cm) high and recognisable by a distinctive black or dark brown head with dark sideburns. They are tree-dwelling and known to use tools such as stones to crack open nuts, shellfish and crabs. However, they do not use them to break down fences or nick copper wire from the railways. ;) :D ;D Title: Re: "Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009) Post by: Tim on May 10, 2010, 11:29:42 wouldn't it be more cost effective to erect a pedestrian bridge than have to keep replacing fences, You make the assumption that if there was a bridge people would use it rather than take a shortcut and aviod climbing some steps. The number of holes cut in fences near to bridges would suggest that some people are too lazy take the bridge even when it is there. This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. 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 content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |