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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2009 14:32:13 GMT
Anybody see the TV footage of the idiot who vaulted the barrier and without looking walked straight in front of a fast moving train? Astonishingly the only thing he lost was a shoe. Anyone know the location?
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Post by Tubeboy on Feb 10, 2009 15:19:48 GMT
It showed a 357, so somewhere on the C2C. IIRC, it was Dagenham Dock, or somewhere round there.
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metman
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Post by metman on Feb 10, 2009 15:35:09 GMT
What a funny world! Just been reading about it in the paper! Muppet!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2009 16:08:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2009 17:17:58 GMT
I can imagine the clip being used for the darwin awards ceremony!
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Post by Tomcakes on Feb 10, 2009 19:13:35 GMT
There was an accident on a level crossing near me in the early 90s, when the line had just been electrified. It was one of those foot crossings with mini lights which are common enough - a mum and two kids approached, saw the mini lights which were turned to red, looked either way and obviously thought "pah, we don't need lights, no trains coming we'll walk across".
Kids ran across ahead of mum, tripped and got one got his feet stuck in the grille which is to either side of the pathway. At this point the train approached, whilst mother was still trying to remove the kids foot from the grille.
The mother was hailed as a hero and such for trying to rescue their kid BUT nobody pointed out that she'd gone across when the lights were on red; and that she'd let her kids run across rather than walking with them...
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Post by edb on Feb 10, 2009 20:41:19 GMT
Hope this isn't a contraversial thing to say but i agree with the above...
There are barriers, there are warnings, it is often (not always, but often) people ignoring the simple rule, lights flashing, dont go.
I mean Duh?
Everyone says replace level crossings? i'm sorry i disagree.
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Post by maxtube on Feb 10, 2009 20:48:30 GMT
How stupid are people these days? We need more CCTV cameras at level crossings, and any car driver that decides to deliberately ignore the warnings can have this done to their car:  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2009 21:27:02 GMT
 >:(The BBC ran a feature on this on 'Newsround', the childrens news program that goes out at the end of the rest of the childrens stuff. To hear some of the kids standing near a level crossing (Wood Lane on the Hounslow loop I think) and saying that the crossings were dangerous made me mad. Not at the kids but at the fact that no-one had educated them otherwise! Although the above incident was at a cctv crossing (with full-width barriers) there are still a large number of half-barrier crossings in use and it is these that provide the bulk of the temptation for the idiots of this world! If I am on a run from Southampton to Birmingham and I am routed via Chandlers Ford, Salisbury, Westbury, Didcot and Banbury (I have done this route countless times when the more direct routes are being dug up) I pass over 10 half-barrier crossings! These crossings are perfectly safe until a motorist or pedestrian suffers brain fade and chances it. Then come the calls from the pro-road lot for the crossings to be abolished! Not once while reporting the above incidents did any news channel mention the effect that near misses have on Train Drivers! Nuff Sed!!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2009 12:35:20 GMT
Whilst I agree with you that it is the actions of the motorist or pedestrian rather the crossing itself that is dangerous I've never really seen the point of half barrier crossings, it could be argued that they do prevent any vehicle becoming trapped but then it always the n/s barrier that lowers before the o/s one.
Sadly the poor old train driver seems to be the last person to be considered in such incidents.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2009 20:54:19 GMT
Is there a site anywhere covering level crossings around Europe? It took me by surprise that an amber light flashes constantly on clear crossings in Belgium, but the alternating red lights with bell were a clear enough indication to stop.
I am sure I once saw an unusual type of level crossing on a road in Rutland - but the barriers were open and I didn't notice the instruction on the sign - though I gather it was some kind where if the barriers are closed you have to press a button.
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SE13
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Post by SE13 on Feb 12, 2009 22:46:47 GMT
Having to cross level crossings as I do several (what feels like thousands) of times a day, you'd be amazed at what people will do to either get in front of the bus, or just to save a few seconds. The High Street crossing is a classic, the numpties don't realise that it's all very well risking life and limb to speed onder the lowering barriers, but the lights on the other side won't let them through.
One just yesterday, lights start, barriers starts lowering, matey in his BMW screams away from quite some distance behind, round the traffic, under the lowering barriers to get stuck on the other side. Oblivious to the amount of people he nearly took out, and presumably oblivious to the fact that there are cameras everywhere on that crossing.
It always begs the question.... What are they going to do with those extra few seconds? Well, presuming they survive them in the first place.....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2009 23:17:36 GMT
Read an article by a (reasonably senior) officer of the NSW State Police, who made the comment that they rarely prosecuted anybody after level crossing accidents - there was rarely anybody still alive to prosecute.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2009 19:49:50 GMT
It's ashame people run the risk in the 21st century! half barriers are lethal, but are alot cheaper too install so i doubt they will be replaced anytime soon. If they could find a way of putting in steel automatic bollards either side then no one would try running them!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2009 19:58:26 GMT
What you need are those automatic bollards which rise up out of the ground! There is a book recently out titled Level Crossings. I have had a quick flick through it and its full of pictures on crossings from around the world. I will buy the book shortly!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2009 20:15:17 GMT
Artery you copy cat!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2009 20:16:09 GMT
Great minds think alike, eh? ;D
I would quite like to see some stats on how we compare with other parts of the world. I know from looking at youtube that the USA have a problem with it, so does Australia; it would seem that it is a worldwide problem; never seem to hear of this kind of thing on Japanese railways...
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Post by Tomcakes on Feb 14, 2009 20:29:13 GMT
I am sure I once saw an unusual type of level crossing on a road in Rutland - but the barriers were open and I didn't notice the instruction on the sign - though I gather it was some kind where if the barriers are closed you have to press a button. There's various types - my knowledge isn't up to scratch but: There's full barriers, which may be locally or remotely monitored Half barriers, which again may be locally or remotely monitored Then there's the traditional style gated crossings, which are widely used on secondary / tertiary routes. Some of them are operated locally, by a signalbox. Others will be normally left open to railway traffic and, should a motorist wish to cross, they will need to open the gates, drive across, and shut the gates after them. Of course, drivers of long or slow vehicles should telephone the signalman, first. A lot nowadays have miniature lights, which show whether a train is approaching or not. Foot crossings generally have some sort of barrier - to prevent people running across. |
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Post by pgb on Feb 14, 2009 20:47:29 GMT
There are lots of different types of level crossings coming under many different categories. There is: User Worked Crossing - Normally an occupation crossing where Farmer Jones rings up the signaller to take his tractor across. MWL - Minature Warning Lights - foot crossing with red and green lights indicating to the user whether it is safe to cross. Open Crossings - only a few left in the uk on the mainline most of which are stop and proceed. Heritage Lines. Automatic Open Crossings Locally Monitored - used on lines which have a line speed of 50mph or less (I think) Automatic Half Barriers AHBs - These can either be locally monitored or have a protecting signal, however, the signal does not prevent anything from sitting on the crossing. Does not have to be remotely monitored as there is still an escape route (I think) ABC - Automatic Barrier Crossing - which must be remotely monitored to ensure that nobody gets trapped inside. TMOB - TrainMan Operated Barriers - This are full barrier crossings which are operated by the crew themselves. Can be seen on the Cambrian Coast Branch Line. Involves a track cicuit and a post with a string on. To activate, park train on track circuit, pull string, get white light. These also have an indication beyond the crossing to indicate the barriers have gone back up - something they forget occasionally causing havoc. If you want more info on Stats, try www.lxinfo.orgThree guesses what I've been doing at work of late! |
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Post by westbound on Feb 14, 2009 20:47:36 GMT
I seem to recall that the TV programme "Top Gear" ran a sneering programme about level crossing safety. Someone ought to get the TV producers and journalists to be held accountable for irresponsible reporting about level-crossing incidents. But, as we all know, the media are crass about most things regarding railways and railway safety and have got one brain cell between them when it comes to fairness and impartiality on the subject of railways in general.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2009 20:56:54 GMT
To use the terminology for Network Rail...
AHB = Automatic Half Barrier,
AOCL = Automatic Open Crossing Locally Monitored,
AOCR = Automatic Open Crossing Remotely Monitored,
Ahh, pgb has supplied the info while I was locating a book with their actual meanings! Nice one pgb!
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Post by pakenhamtrain on Feb 15, 2009 2:38:17 GMT
Great minds think alike, eh? ;D I would quite like to see some stats on how we compare with other parts of the world. I know from looking at youtube that the USA have a problem with it, so does Australia I'm not entirely sure on what the figures are but if I remember correctly the ammount of near misses was rather high. But yes it is a problem. I often see pepole dart accross crossings. Or just sit over the crossing while waiting for the lights. Most crossing with boom barriers and/or lights are automatic. Although theres a few thousand crossings most are just "Passive crossings" With a sign and that's it. |
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