Atomic Systems

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6407025.stm

The second fatal collision at Swainsthorpe AHB in the last 18 months .

The driver of the car has been confirmed killed, no one on the train was injured.

Busses replace trains between Norwich and Diss.

So that's what the Evening Standard is hysterical about. Figured it was something like that.

I wonder if the driver saw Top Gear.

bit that annoyed me the most is the paper reports 100mph smash....line speed is around 70-80!!!!!

Ahwell, the media couldnt give a damn about that

Hi
I think I saw a report of one in Wales at the weekend?....but it was over shadowed by the WCML fiasco.
I have to say though same crossing in 18 months, sounds as if something needs to be done.
I have to use an AHB on the way to work everyday, and I'm very nervous, because there's 10 Notwork Rail deadheads at it every few days.
So something is clearly not right.
I suppose I could use the manned crossing, but then if your caught you're stuck for 7 Min's while one of the endless oil trains creeps by.
Cheers
Jon

jbilton wrote: I have to say though same crossing in 18 months, sounds as if something needs to be done.

Not as far as I can see, On both occasions the crossing was working as it should have been. And If Im not mistaken the previous collision at Swainsthorpe was due to someone parking thier car on the track.

danielw2599 wrote:

jbilton wrote: I have to say though same crossing in 18 months, sounds as if something needs to be done.

Not as far as I can see, On both occasions the crossing was working as it should have been. And If Im not mistaken the previous collision at Swainsthorpe was due to someone parking thier car on the track.

Well thats a bit of a daft thing to do....

Cheers
Jon

jbilton wrote:I have to use an AHB on the way to work everyday, and I'm very nervous, because there's 10 Notwork Rail deadheads at it every few days. Jon

Oi cheeky! We're not all deadheads you know

The only thing that I would suggest is maybe Network Rail should look a little harder at the "Holdfast Safe Route". This comprises of rubber bollards on approach to Level crossings (Any crossings) to help reduce the urge of weaving round the barriers.

Full barriers will be more use in preventing the idiots who weave around the barriers, but if someone is determined to park their car on the crossing there's very little that can be done.

I expect manned crossings don't have that problem, but they're not exactly an economic proposition.

The last incident at this crossing was a suicide, so that can't really be used to indicate any dangerousness of this particular crossing.

Also i belive the hold fast system is not useable in this country yet.

You can't have full barriers though unless the crossing is monitored and interlocked with the signals, since there is a risk of a vehicle, or even pedestrian being trapped on the crossing. At least half barriers give someone who has broken down or something a chance to drive or push the car clear, and even if it's a suicide they have a chance for second thoughts. I think cameras like on some junctions that record those going through the lights when red would be a good idea. They shouldn't be that expensive, and through fines and also a reduction in costly accidents (think how much this accident is costing the railways) they should pay for themselves. A possible possible solution to swerving the barriers would be some kind of ramp that only allowed vehicles to pass one way, like are often found when leaving pay on exit car parks, but that only raised after the main barriers had come down (since they are designed to be passed over at low speed). That would stop people swerving the barriers, but still allow stuck vehicles off the crossing. The only problem is that whilst they would be a deterant, unless they were able to prevent a vehicle from getting onto the crossing they could be more of a danger since they would likely damage a vehicle that tried to swerve the barriers and possibly cause them to be stuck on the crossing (the worst would be those that are like spikes and I think designed to puncture your tired if you go through the wrong way, since that would very likely cause the vehicle to stop on the crossing right infront of the train).

Hi
I like the sound of cameras to watch the traffic....a red-light is a red-light....and jumpers should be prosecuted.
I would also like to see motion sensors and cameras linked to the railway, and monitored by the signalman.
Also overhead road lights to illuminate the crossing.
The AHB I use comes down and the train passes within about 15 seconds, not much time for mistakes, and certainly no time for the driver to see any blockage and brake.
Cheers
Jon

jbilton wrote:Hi
I like the sound of cameras to watch the traffic....a red-light is a red-light....and jumpers should be prosecuted.
I would also like to see motion sensors and cameras linked to the railway, and monitored by the signalman.
Also overhead road lights to illuminate the crossing.
The AHB I use comes down and the train passes within about 15 seconds, not much time for mistakes, and certainly no time for the driver to see any blockage and brake.
Cheers
Jon

This is why I give up with people weaving round barriers.
An AHB, which is the type of crossing where you can do it, is down for such a short time, whats the problem ? Its not like a full barrier crossing which (due to the requirements to check its clear etc..) mean it will be down for several minutes.
Its darwinism at its best.

The only way to stop people weaving thru crossings is to ban them from driving when caught.
And it's easy to catch them with cameras.

As with everything else in this country it's about time we started punishing the bad guys.

jbilton wrote: The AHB I use comes down and the train passes within about 15 seconds, not much time for mistakes, and certainly no time for the driver to see any blockage and brake.
Cheers
Jon

Cant be a very high speed line then as even the Romney barriers need to be down for around 30 seconds before the train passes i belive and thats at 15mph.

JR