Misuse of level crossings - highlighting but not limited to Marlow branch

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the Swindon Advertiser

The number of near-misses and trespassing incidents on railway tracks has risen sharply, according to the Office of Rail and Road.

The rail regulator is urging people to stop taking unnecessary risks around the train lines.

Figures from Network Rail show trespassers disrupted vital passenger and freight services across Britain 1,024 times between March 23 and 26 April 26 -an average of 34 incidents a day This is a 25 per cent increase from 818 incidents in the same period last year. The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has followed up a number of reported incidents, and believes that in most cases, an error of judgement was the main factor.

etc

With a STUPID picture taken from the middle of a track illustrating the very place people should NOT linger!

Leading to a promotion of http://youvstrain.co.uk

[JayMac]

 I was going to point out the stupid use of the picture in the 'comments' section of the article. Someone with a familiar name beat me to it... 

[IndustryInsider]

I was going to point out the stupid use of the picture in the 'comments' section of the article. Someone with a familiar name beat me to it... 

That can’t be our Graham.  He spelt advice correctly! 

[JayMac]

Our Graham?

Wasn't he the announcer on ITV's Blind Date?

[grahame]

BETWEEN BOURNE END AND MARLOW - FROM 16:00 HOURS THURSDAY 9 JULY 2020
From the above time and date, Mill Lane footpath crossing at 2m 29ch will be converted to an Overlay Miniature Stop Light crossing (OMSL) with audible emitter system.

BETWEEN BOURNE END AND MARLOW - FROM 16:00 HOURS THURSDAY 9 JULY 2020
From the above time and date, Upper Thames Sailing Club User Worked Crossing at 0m 37ch will be converted to an Overlay Miniature Stop Light crossing (OMSL) with audible emitter system.
At the same time, works will be carried out to the crossing gates and the crossing surface.

And an OMSL is ...

Overlay Miniature Stop Light (OMSL) level crossing

Certain level crossings are provided with overlay miniature stop light equipment. Like conventional Miniature Stop Light (MSL^▸ (Miniature Stop Lights (foot crossing))) crossings, these provide indications to the users of the crossings on whether it is safe to cross (green) or not safe to cross (red). The system is designed to overlay existing infrastructure without interacting with it (Note: I-OMSL type crossing will interact), however permissible speeds in the wrong direction on the approach should be identified on multiple track lines by wrong direction speed boards. The system is usually activated by wheel sensors that operate in a similar way to axle counters – when they detect a train they set the lights to red, when the train hits the strike out sensor the lights go to green.
 
Where a system failure is detected or operational scenario (e.g. train failure, engineering works) may incur the red indication for excessive periods, user indications are suppressed and the lights go into ‘dark mode’. On encountering this mode the user is directed on safe operation by the signage provided, however they can be reactivated by another train passing or through a manual reset.

All staff should note that, like axle counters, using metal tools or simply passing within a metre wearing safety boots can cause activation of these sensors, and should be avoided.

I think these are similar to the setup on the Westbury avoider, though that is silent, I think?   How many other crossings already equipped?

[CyclingSid]

I think Farnborough North is one of these, or similar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farnborough_North_railway_station#/media/File:Farnborough_north_crossing.jpg

[Fourbee]

I think Farnborough North is one of these, or similar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farnborough_North_railway_station#/media/File:Farnborough_north_crossing.jpg

I think the Farnborough North one had the audio added later (audio sounds a bit like a full barrier level crossing, but continuous when a red light is showing). Might have been around the same time the monitoring hut/shed was added.

I think there are magnetic holds on the gates controlled from the hut as well?

Presumably this crossing is in one of the higher risk categories.

[Bmblbzzz]

Purton, just north of Swindon, and Haresfield, south of Gloucester, have a similar set up. Both are silent.

[CyclingSid]

It's that time of year for promoting level crossing safety. Network Rail working with cycling
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/how-keep-safe-level-crossings
Probably nothing new to users of this forum.

[bradshaw]

This from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page), concerning trespass at Crewkerne Gates
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-54508740

[ellendune]

This from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page), concerning trespass at Crewkerne Gates
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-54508740

Network Rail issued a warning that live rails carry 750 volts of electricity, which can kill.

Has 3rd rail been extended further west as far as Crewkerne while I wasn't looking?

[stuving]

This from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page), concerning trespass at Crewkerne Gates
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-54508740

Network Rail issued a warning that live rails carry 750 volts of electricity, which can kill.

Has 3rd rail been extended further west as far as Crewkerne while I wasn't looking?

Not, but current journalistic standards have, perhaps, been extended to the BBC. What NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s statement said was:

Young children caught trespassing on the railway in Crewkerne

Network Rail is urging parents to warn their children about the dangers of trespassing on the railway as three children were spotted risking their lives by accessing the tracks via a level crossing near Crewkerne in Somerset.

The incident was seen by a South Western Railway train driver, who stopped his train and asked them to leave the line.

The three children believed to be between the ages of 6 to 9 were seen entering the railway between Crewkerne station and the level crossing on 26 September just before 2pm

Network Rail is warning people to stay off the railway as it could cost you your life. Not only are there trains, but in most of the South Western Railway network there are live rails carrying 750 volts of electricity, which can kill.

Marcia Burnett, community safety manager for Network Rail Wessex, said: ?Trespassing is extremely dangerous and it is never safe to hang around on the railway.

?It?s vital that we make children and young people aware of the dangers and the devastating consequences that trespassing can have by educating them, and by setting an example.?

[CyclingSid]

Not our patch
https://road.cc/content/news/video-level-crossing-cyclist-almost-hit-80mph-train-277943
The rail network owner and infrastructure manager has issued footage of the incident, which happened at the Dog Kennel foot crossing on Ashford Road in Chartham at around 7.50am, shot from the train?s cab.

[grahame]

Not our patch

And another ... the Yorkshire Post

A newly-married couple have been shamed by Network Rail for having what appear to be official wedding photos taken on a level crossing.

The pair were caught on CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) posing on the tracks near Whitby this summer, with a bridesmaid also trespassing - ironically to hold the bride's train.

[smokey]

One real backward move by the Rail industry was to drop the second tone on warnings given by Trains. 

A single note warning horn is too much like a car horn, and the first tone warning was like "Call attention" and the Second "CONFIRMED" the approaching train.

Also background noise might suppress one of the tones, and some people with hearing problems might not hear a low tone but will hear a high tone or versa vice.