Level Crossings - What Possesses People?
Discussion
There's a run of adverts on the radio and TV lately about the dangers of level crossings to motorists.
Now, as much as I wouldn't drink and drive, I can just about get my head around why they need to run adverts because people have different tolerances, think they aren't drunk etc.
What I can't get my head around is why the f
k anyone would fk about with a train?
Is it really that much of an issue that the adverts are justified? I'd always assumed more people die each year by falling over whilst putting their trousers on.
Now, as much as I wouldn't drink and drive, I can just about get my head around why they need to run adverts because people have different tolerances, think they aren't drunk etc.
What I can't get my head around is why the f
k anyone would fk about with a train?Is it really that much of an issue that the adverts are justified? I'd always assumed more people die each year by falling over whilst putting their trousers on.
I wouldn't dream of doing it, but something needs to be done about waiting times. A few years ago they changed things so that the barriers went down and lifted up earlier, and this meant that if trains were within a few minutes of each other the barriers just stay down. I know of two level crossings near where I live that can stay down for 5, 10 or even 20 minutes. That's just ridiculous. It drives people to cross when it's not safe. You could say it's Darwinism, but something could and should be done about what drives people to try and cross when the barriers are down.
doogz said:
I was thinking this last week as i drove over one. I honestly think it's the first level crossing I've ever seen, are there lots of them about? Is this a real problem?
It is a problem, mainly for 4 up baseball cap wearing mongs.At the level crossing in Whyteleafe that i use several times a day over the last 10 years I have on many occasions stopped at the line when the amber lights flash - only for the next couple of cars behind to overtake and floor it across just as the red lights flash.
Hopefully, when they do misjudge it, it will only be them that gets flattened, not someone on the train.
doogz said:
I was thinking this last week as i drove over one. I honestly think it's the first level crossing I've ever seen, are there lots of them about? Is this a real problem?
I suppose it depends where you live. I can think of four that I regularly have to drive across. Only one of them is really a pain though, as the barriers come down for trains approaching from seemingly miles away and often stay down for around 5 minutes at a time. in a previous job one of the things I had to do was investigate fatalities at level crossings, that were not immediately apparent as suicides
I can say that I went out to plenty, and in all honesty one is enough.
People running the lights, and around half barriers is a common occurrence and if the campaign saves one more life then it is worth it.
I can say that I went out to plenty, and in all honesty one is enough.
People running the lights, and around half barriers is a common occurrence and if the campaign saves one more life then it is worth it.
if u lived near one you would no why. there is one in my village and its the most unlevel pain in the ass of a thing in the world.
its the only way out of 3 villages into town and in the morning the barriers are up and down every 10 mins with a good 5-10 mins wait before the train arrives. then it often stops in the station which is before the level crossing and they then hold the barriers down while everyone gets off and f**ks about so were waiting for 15-20 mins. boils my blood.
however i would never run the light but ive seen it done.
there was a woman this summer in a z3 that was in the traffic after a train. she decided to sit on the track. another train came along she was stuck with nowhere to go. the barriers came down hit the bonnet of her car. the traffic moved just in time and she drove through. barrier up the windscreen and smacks her in the head.
now i no its not funny but i must say i was nearly wetting my self when it hit her in the head.
P.s im not evil i did stop to see if she was ok. dont think she will do that again. and im sure a nice fine was going her way from the big yellow camera.
its the only way out of 3 villages into town and in the morning the barriers are up and down every 10 mins with a good 5-10 mins wait before the train arrives. then it often stops in the station which is before the level crossing and they then hold the barriers down while everyone gets off and f**ks about so were waiting for 15-20 mins. boils my blood.
however i would never run the light but ive seen it done.
there was a woman this summer in a z3 that was in the traffic after a train. she decided to sit on the track. another train came along she was stuck with nowhere to go. the barriers came down hit the bonnet of her car. the traffic moved just in time and she drove through. barrier up the windscreen and smacks her in the head.
now i no its not funny but i must say i was nearly wetting my self when it hit her in the head.
P.s im not evil i did stop to see if she was ok. dont think she will do that again. and im sure a nice fine was going her way from the big yellow camera.
RobM77 said:
I wouldn't dream of doing it, but something needs to be done about waiting times. A few years ago they changed things so that the barriers went down and lifted up earlier, and this meant that if trains were within a few minutes of each other the barriers just stay down. I know of two level crossings near where I live that can stay down for 5, 10 or even 20 minutes. That's just ridiculous. It drives people to cross when it's not safe. You could say it's Darwinism, but something could and should be done about what drives people to try and cross when the barriers are down.
Agreed, this is the problem. I wouldn't ever run one, but sometimes the barriers stay down so long that half the small town where I live fills up with traffic, and the people waiting have no alternative but to jam roads that don't even cross the railway. They are a pain in the arse. I don't understand why there need ever be more than a 120 second wait.
steviejasp said:
With regards waiting times, why do you only have to wait a few seconds for an automated crossing but 5 minutes for a manned one?
Is it that the controller gets off making people wait for ever?
With autos there are rarely signals involved which is why they are lethal, say you got a rope and tied the barriers up so they never fell, the train would still come through at line speed. Is it that the controller gets off making people wait for ever?
With full barriers they are monitored by CCTV and have signals involved so you need barriers proved down before the protecting signals will show proceed, couple that with the long run you need to give a train traveling at speed as not to slow it up and there is your answer to why you have to wait longer. On the safety side if the crossing doesn't work then the train comes to a stop before the crossing.
Auto crossing can only have line speed of up to 90 mph IIRC so you will find on mainlines with HSTs full barriers are employed.
Radar monitored xings which employ full barriers are being rolled out which are both safe and more automatic.
I have 10 years of faulting and installing xing equipment for Network Rail including attending serious accidents and incidents. Happy to answer questions.
GarryA said:
steviejasp said:
With regards waiting times, why do you only have to wait a few seconds for an automated crossing but 5 minutes for a manned one?
Is it that the controller gets off making people wait for ever?
With autos there are rarely signals involved which is why they are lethal, say you got a rope and tied the barriers up so they never fell, the train would still come through at line speed. Is it that the controller gets off making people wait for ever?
With full barriers they are monitored by CCTV and have signals involved so you need barriers proved down before the protecting signals will show proceed, couple that with the long run you need to give a train traveling at speed as not to slow it up and there is your answer to why you have to wait longer. On the safety side if the crossing doesn't work then the train comes to a stop before the crossing.
Auto crossing can only have line speed of up to 90 mph IIRC so you will find on mainlines with HSTs full barriers are employed.
Radar monitored xings which employ full barriers are being rolled out which are both safe and more automatic.
I have 10 years of faulting and installing xing equipment for Network Rail including attending serious accidents and incidents. Happy to answer questions.
Why do the barriers stay down at Nantwich Station when the train is stopping and stopped at the station? A good portion of the town has ground to a halt (arguably in the 50's), yet there's no train movement. Why can't the barriers be up, up until 30-60 seconds before the train leaves?
Porkbrain said:
It is a problem, mainly for 4 up baseball cap wearing mongs.
At the level crossing in Whyteleafe that i use several times a day over the last 10 years I have on many occasions stopped at the line when the amber lights flash - only for the next couple of cars behind to overtake and floor it across just as the red lights flash.
Hopefully, when they do misjudge it, it will only be them that gets flattened, not someone on the train.
Small world. At the level crossing in Whyteleafe that i use several times a day over the last 10 years I have on many occasions stopped at the line when the amber lights flash - only for the next couple of cars behind to overtake and floor it across just as the red lights flash.
Hopefully, when they do misjudge it, it will only be them that gets flattened, not someone on the train.
We've probably at one point been sat opposite at that crossing and stared at each other in disbelief as they play chicken.
It’s not much fun when they’re playing Billy Big Potatoes and they’re coming towards you…
GarryA said:
High chance without seeing the installation ( I will look at Google Maps in a bit ) I would say there is no protection for the train in the event of a SPAD so if the driver cocks up pulling into the station he will spill onto the road, when signals are SPADed then there is only time to put the red lights on and not drop the barriers.
No idea what a SPAD is, but the road crosses the line immediately after the station (within about 15 yards of the end of the platform) so that would make some (ok, a lot of) sense.Major ball-ache for the town (ok, for me) though.
Do trains often (ever?) overrun the end of the platform?
BarnatosGhost said:
Oh goody, a person of experience and knowledge.
Why do the barriers stay down at Nantwich Station when the train is stopping and stopped at the station? A good portion of the town has ground to a halt (arguably in the 50's), yet there's no train movement. Why can't the barriers be up, up until 30-60 seconds before the train leaves?
Had a look on Google Maps, looks like is used to be a gated crossing and they have been replace with barriers, there are still semaphore signals so I would say the interlocking and layout is poor. As there is no protection for the train in the event of a SPAD so if the driver cocks up pulling into the station he will spill onto the road, when signals are SPADed then there is only time to put the red lights on and not drop the barriers. Why do the barriers stay down at Nantwich Station when the train is stopping and stopped at the station? A good portion of the town has ground to a halt (arguably in the 50's), yet there's no train movement. Why can't the barriers be up, up until 30-60 seconds before the train leaves?
BarnatosGhost said:
No idea what a SPAD is, but the road crosses the line immediately after the station (within about 15 yards of the end of the platform) so that would make some (ok, a lot of) sense.
Major ball-ache for the town (ok, for me) though.
Do trains often (ever?) overrun the end of the platform?
SignalMajor ball-ache for the town (ok, for me) though.
Do trains often (ever?) overrun the end of the platform?
Passed
At
Danger
You could have leaves on the line which is like black ice for a train driver, that could easily put him on the road.
GarryA said:
BarnatosGhost said:
No idea what a SPAD is, but the road crosses the line immediately after the station (within about 15 yards of the end of the platform) so that would make some (ok, a lot of) sense.
Major ball-ache for the town (ok, for me) though.
Do trains often (ever?) overrun the end of the platform?
SignalMajor ball-ache for the town (ok, for me) though.
Do trains often (ever?) overrun the end of the platform?
Passed
At
Danger
You could have leaves on the line which is like black ice for a train driver, that could easily put him on the road.
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