Use the bridge? Ain't nobody got time for that...

[LexyBoy]

One has to assume that there must be some mental health issues involved here, it's not like she couldn't be bothered to walk to the footbridge 'cos it's right there!.

From the BBC:

A warning has been issued to rail users after a woman was photographed crossing the tracks in Berkshire, seemingly avoiding the footbridge.

The woman, who appears to be carrying shopping bags, was snapped at Reading West station on Thursday.

Tony Hamilton-Hunt, who took the pictures, said "one minute later" a train "came whizzing through".

 

[gordonthemoron]

well LM/NR have put up railings on the fast line platforms at some stations on WCML, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley and possibly Berko

 

[LexyBoy]

The mains are fenced off or inaccessible (or just absent, as anyone wishing to get to Pangbourne during weekend engineering works will know) at a number of GWML local stations too - Reading West however is a double track, 2 platform job with 8-10 tph in each direction...

 

[swt_passenger]

well LM/NR have put up railings on the fast line platforms at some stations on WCML, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley and possibly Berko

Not really relevant to a two platform station such as Reading West though...

 

[MK Tom]

Seeing this news article just reminds me why I hate the human race. It's filled to the brim with absolute morons.

 

[thenorthern]

Its common to walk across the tracks in mainline Europe.

I remember when the 2012 Olympics was on and there were so many announcements saying that its illegal to walk across the tracks at any mainline station.

 

[pinguini]

Its common to walk across the tracks in mainline Europe.

I remember when the 2012 Olympics was on and there were so many announcements saying that its illegal to walk across the tracks at any mainline station.

Yes but in many other countries the platforms are barely a couple of inches off the ground it isnt difficult to step onto the track

 

[MK Tom]

Its common to walk across the tracks in mainline Europe.

I remember when the 2012 Olympics was on and there were so many announcements saying that its illegal to walk across the tracks at any mainline station.

Not usually technically allowed though. Several times I've seen French station staff whistle and shout frantically at people doing it.

 

[headshot119]

Not usually technically allowed though. Several times I've seen French station staff whistle and shout frantically at people doing it.

It's a bit interesting to get off a 18 coach train in a 12 coach platform when there is no gangway. onto the ballast we all went, luggage and all.

 

[DaveHarries]

Going by the photo in the first post I would say that there is a village that wants its idiot back.

As for those who do it in France, perhaps anyone doing it in Paris could simply be declared inseine.....

Dave

 

[jon0844]

If people were to do it here because they were allowed to do it in their home country, at least they'd probably be looking out and taking precautions (assuming people aren't run over hourly there).

Of course, with higher platforms and the simple fact it's against the law (and drivers wouldn't continue as normal around them, so it would cause chaos to timetables), it wouldn't be workable obviously - but it would be a lot different to the type of idiot that crossed out of laziness, drunkeness or to avoid paying for a fare (I've seen it happen simply so people can climb over a fence and avoid the gates).

 

[CC 72100]

As for those who do it in France, perhaps anyone doing it in Paris could simply be declared inseine.....

Dave

Platform 14, Gare de l'Est yesterday. Bloke with a bike walked from behind a Z20500 unit that had just arrived from Meaux, onto the track by the buffers, behind the loco stabled on the adjacent platform and then back onto the platform.

My personal suspicion is that he was ticketless (part of the station is barriered for Transilien Line P services) and did so to get across to the open bit of the station where main line services are (unbarriered) to get out. Some would say I'm cynical, I like to call it 'experienced'

Obviously at a terminus it is different, but I'm pretty sure that in one of my first weeks here I did see a youth cross the line whilst waiting for a train at Fontenay-Sous-Bois - a train every 10 minutes in each direction off-peak, allegedly double that in the peak. And not all of them stop either... :roll:

 

[tsr]

I don't think the height of platforms or how easy it is to cross the track are the only defining points of why people think it's OK to walk across the line.

For example, in Croydon, the Tramlink system has many low platforms at stops where it would be easy to cross like this, albeit dangerous. But, drunks and a few nutcases aside, very few people seem to think it's acceptable - and quite rightly so. Trespassers walking parallel to the tracks actually seem to be more common.

This includes during revenue blocks at stops, although of course barriers do not exist on the vast majority of the Tramlink network.

All in all, I'm pretty sure this simply varies by country.

But going back to the Reading West incident, I too fail to see why that method of crossing was thought by the woman as an easier way - obviously it isn't safer! Sadly there is insufficient education about track safety in this country - maybe it is just that there are too many who still simply think that you can experiment with crossing illegally without realising you may end up crossing the threshold of a mortuary.

 

[Brunswick]

Try India its a free for all the track is just another path or place to live

 

[rebmcr]

For example, in Croydon, the Tramlink system has many low platforms at stops where it would be easy to cross like this, albeit dangerous.

Some Tramlink stops have only an at-grade foot crossing to reach the other platform.

 

[asylumxl]

Some Tramlink stops have only an at-grade foot crossing to reach the other platform.

Indeed! There is a station near Wimbledon where the only access is via a crossing. I was quite perplexed as to how I was supposed to get to the other platform, as there was a sign right in front of the crossing stating trespassing on the line was prohibited...

 

[Golden Gripper]

What if there is no footbridge. On the line from Crewe to Shrewsbury three stations (Wrenbury, Prees and Wem) the only means of crossing the line is by the road crossing, and it can be quite some time before the train arrives, especially when there is a train coming a little earlier from the opposite direction. The recent resignalling of the line has made this worst, especially at Wrenbury, where the barriers can come down some 8 or 9 minutes before the train arrives.

How long before your train departs should you arrive at the station? Wem is a busier station where the train is booked to stop. Usually you can cross over after the barrier has risen and still catch the train. But at Wrenbury and Prees you could be the only person getting on the train and they are request stops, so unless you are on the platform the train will not stop. Now add that it is the last train. A bit of a quandry eh?!

Network Rail are looking at the problem of the timing of barriers dropping at Wrenbury, but really there should be a footbridge.

 

[Jonny]

Indeed! There is a station near Wimbledon where the only access is via a crossing. I was quite perplexed as to how I was supposed to get to the other platform, as there was a sign right in front of the crossing stating trespassing on the line was prohibited...

I presume they mean by going on the track to the side of the crossing.

 

[PeterY]

I know this is a slightly different scenario. I was waiting at Ware recently, watching. By the level crossing is a footbridge. When the gates are down people wait by the barriers, nothing wrong in that, than walk over the footbridge.

 

[Domh245]

Some Tramlink stops have only an at-grade foot crossing to reach the other platform.

I'm fairly certain that all Tramlink stops (with multiple platforms) have only an at-grade foot crossing to access the tracks

Indeed! There is a station near Wimbledon where the only access is via a crossing. I was quite perplexed as to how I was supposed to get to the other platform, as there was a sign right in front of the crossing stating trespassing on the line was prohibited...

I'm assuming that this was Merton Park, in which case there is foot crossing at both ends of the platforms, with the access routes leading onto the Croydon Platform. As far as I know, using a designated foot crossing isn't trespassing, but as soon as you go off the crossing, then you are

 

[Statto]

Try India its a free for all the track is just another path or place to live

How about this one then http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qF01mJ6KSM

 

[johnnychips]

Oh dear. While I would never dream of crossing tracks in England - largely because nobody else does (rarely) - I did it a few times on the Barcelona-Blanes line last year. This was probably because the platforms are low (as someone else suggested), other people did it, there was no enforcement, and I'm probably too arrogant to think that a train won't hit me if I look both ways. This was especially true at Arenys de Mar, where going out of the proper barriers would have meant an extra 800m walk to the beach I wanted to be at.

I'm well aware of the disaster at Castelldefels in the same area a few years ago. Unfortunately, I can see myself doing the same thing again this July. On the one hand, I know I shouldn't do it as it's against the rules, on the other almost 100% of people do it there with no harm done.

 

[TUC]

It is hard to feel there is an equitable, objective approach taken at present. Whilst absolutely recognising the issues on lines with frequent high speed traffic-just as on a motorway- and also lines with third rail systems, its also the case that many light rail systems are designed with the assumption that passengers will cross the track. Its the sense of a lack of an equitable approach between that and low speed heavy rail lines that is harder to understand.

 

[TDK]

Try India its a free for all the track is just another path or place to live

Train drivers in India on average have a fatality once every 6 months in the UK it's once every 10 years or there abouts - enough said what is the safer option.