"Anger over rail fence gap" - South Wales Argus (22/12/2009)

[whole diary]

[Tim]

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^▸ (Inter City) . 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.

[paul7575]

According to a BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) bloke I spoke to a few years ago, (the train was delayed sitting at Cosham IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), 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

[Phil]

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?

[grahame]

.... 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.

[paul7575]

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

[inspector_blakey]

Just to inject a bit of (probably unjustified and slightly tasteless) levity into this thread, spotted the linked post on Railway Eye this morning...

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

dont you just love our country 

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

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. 

[Tim]

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.