General Chat

just seen some footage on the news which incensed me

#campaign to close level crossings on the grounds that they are dangerous!!#

words fail me, the signs are clear enough,
if the lights are flashing or the barriers are down..................keep off the crossing................some insane barrier beaters /jumpers were shown,

I'm sorry but if you get hit in those circumstances then tough, its your own fault.

it is frustrating to get a closed crossing, but the trains were there, in place before many of us were born
obey the rules and you wont get hurt!!

Personally I think it was a mistake to Automate them and get rid of the manual ones,it provided work for people, and no one would cross whilst the keeper was there.might be cheaper and more modern but not safer. :-(

I have never liked the modern crossing gates although I did once get wedged in the old style gates, but you don't want to know about that!

The old ones gave employment to crossing keepers and they just about took the choice away from anybody who might have thought of jumping them.

Dogs and little children could not run through them either.

Just another one of those things where people are not to blame for their own actions or inaction.

To name just a couple of recent recent events being pushed by the media

Lorry drivers get the blame when a cyclist enters the drivers blind spot and get injured or die

Police get the blame when armed dangerous criminal are shot dead

Roy

Unfortunately accidents at level crossings are very bad news for all concerned not just those who take a chance. Each of these accidents at best results in serious expense, delays and dislocation of both the road and rail service. At worst people get killed and seriously injured, traumatised - this can be the train crew and passengers not just the chancers.

The only viable options for crossings with problems is the installation of full automatic gates instead of half poles or closing the crossing altogether.

The old type swing gates with keepers are far too slow, wildly uneconomic and did not have that great a safety record anyway.

Of course some people are led on the the railway lines by their SatNavs. Just how they confuse a railway line with tarmac I am not sure but Mr McGoo will know.

According to the Highway Code and established case traffic law it is the responsibility of the turning vehicle to ensure it is safe to do so and other road users not endangered. Large vehicle drivers should have installed suitable mirrors or, better, video monitoring of the "blind side" which does not need to be blind at all. Moreover these accidents are often caused by the HGV/bus turning too soon. Continuing slightly further before turning and then turning more slowly would obviate illegal crossing of cycle lanes, obliteration of street furniture and even cyclists, pedestrians and would be bus passengers. However doing that at every left turn would cost valuable time and that would never do.

I lived in a village with a crossing till I was in my 20s and only heard of one accident ......a youth taking chances and getting his motorbike caught in the crossing gates. In those times there was a manned signal box at the side and the village station, but pathetic oil lamps hung on the gates at night. Nowadays the signal box is automated and there have been so many problems with silly pedestrians taking chances crossing the tracks. There is a small bridge to cross to the other platform but people were taking short cuts. What they have done now is install CCTV cameras to catch the offenders.......I think they should be at all crossings.

all my sympathies lie with the train driver - my son is a train driver and some of his colleagues who have killed people on level crossings have never been able to work again - I just hope it never happens to my son - he's upset enough over all the animals he kills on the line - fortunately he's managed to rescue and rehome three injured cats so far in his career

How on earth did he rescue them? Did he stop the train and apologise to the commuters while he nursed the cat?
Just wondered.

as a matter of fact that is exactly what he did and all were in complete agreement

it's all about caring for fellow human beings and fellow creatures on earth - an aiien concept to some, sadly

I work on the railway as a signaller, where I work I have 3 auto half barriers and 3 CCTV full barriers, one of those is right by the box where I work. In the 25 years as I have done this job I have seen too many people taking risks, only one was not the drivers fault as he hit black ice on the road and slid the final few feet into the barriers.

Most people take the yellow, followed by red flashing lights as a signal to put their foot down! How many are aware that a red FLASHING light means stop and that includes all emergency vehicles even if they are using blue lights.

I watched in horror when a young woman jumped the barriers to rescue her dog in front of her children......... I have seen people so intent on texting, they fell over the barrier [that was caught on film]. I have on more than one occasion had to turn away in case I saw the person hit. These people that do this are from all ages, both male and female, there is not one stereotype. And once in a car all sense seems to leave quite a few...

I have no sympathy at all with those that misuse the crossings, I reserve that for those staff that have to then go out and pick up the pieces, the train driver, the signaller, and the BT Police that have to break the news to the family.

My son-in-law is a train driver and 3 years ago a person jumped in front of his train.

He still struggles with the psychological trauma :-(

I am not surprised at all Kitty, when this happens most drivers are automatically given time off. When a person stood in front of a train under my control even I was taken off duty for a week and I couldn't even see what happened, it was about half a mile away. The driver was off for a year ........

A friend of mine lives beside the railway line near a spot where people choose to jump from the train.

I don't think he has ever witnessed anything but he has to put up with all the resultant faff afterwards.