Collision between train and car at Hoghton near Preston (25/06)

[JTR60]

Seeing reports that the 07.51 Colne to Preston has hit a car on a ahb crossing at Hoghton between Blackburn and Preston. One person killed and a child seriously injured (car occupants). Preston to Blackburn line currently closed.
Not a good week on the railway.

 

[DiddyKongRacin]

Frighteningly local this. Believe the barrier related is a half-barrier unlike the ones further towards Preston in Bamber Bridge.

Not a good week at all on the railway...

 

[vidal]

Street View · Google Maps

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maps.app.goo.gl

Link to Google maps of the crossing.

James

 

[MarkWi72]

Looks like it is train 2N82 and it was ay Mintholme Crossing.

 

[TastyMaltesers]

BBC news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrk4nq12q7o

A person has died and a child is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after their car was struck by a train at a level crossing.

It happened at about 08:50 BST at a crossing on Station Road in Hoghton, near Preston in Lancashire, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
Paramedics and the fire service are in attendance, but there have been no other injuries reported, while the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) announced investigators have been sent to the scene.

"Sadly, a child has sustained life-threatening injuries and has been taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for further treatment.
"No passengers from the train required treatment from ambulance crews," a spokesman said.

A BTP spokesperson said: "Two people were in the car and sadly one was pronounced dead at the scene, the other is being taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries."

A spokesperson for RAIB said a team of inspectors has been sent to gather evidence as part of a preliminary examination and "a decision on whether or not an investigation will be launched will be taken in the coming days".
Anyone who witnessed what happened has been asked to contact Lancashire Police.

It's a bit rough reading about another serious rail accident so soon after Bedford.

 

[KNN]

Looks like it is train 2N82 and it was ay Mintholme Crossing.

Mintholme has barriers on both sides, that looks like Hoghton to me

 

[Efini92]

Looks like it is train 2N82 and it was ay Mintholme Crossing.

Juding by the pictures it’s hoghton. Mintholme is a cctv crossing and has full barriers.

 

[MarkWi72]

I stand corrected - it is just where it seems to be on the track section.

 

[AlterEgo]

Awful, hope the child pulls through.

 

[MarkWi72]

It is awful for all involved. Terrible.

 

[norbitonflyer]

BBC news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrk4nq12q7o

The picture in BBC article does appear to be Station Road, Hoghton - I was confsued at first because the road sign suggests to me that it is a full barrier crossing.

 

[jh64]

The picture in BBC article does appear to be Station Road, Hoghton - I was confsued at first because the road sign suggests to me that it is a full barrier crossing.

Street View · Google Maps

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maps.app.goo.gl

This angle from street view matches the photo in the BBC article.

 

[JTR60]

The picture in BBC article does appear to be Station Road, Hoghton - I was confsued at first because the road sign suggests to me that it is a full barrier crossing

The picture in BBC article does appear to be Station Road, Hoghton - I was confsued at first because the road sign suggests to me that it is a full barrier crossing.

Yes it is the same crossing.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2026 ==

Statement from Northern….

 

[Narrowgauge725]

I noticed there are enforcement cameras on the crossing (clip from Google Maps)

 

[Razorblades]

Formed of 150205 based on the incoming working at Colne.

 

[HC1998]

Is there an RTT link anywhere? Absolutely awful week for the railways this

 

[TheSel]

The picture in BBC article does appear to be Station Road, Hoghton - I was confsued at first because the road sign suggests to me that it is a full barrier crossing.

No - the sign with a gate indicates: "Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead" - and applies to both gated and barriered crossings - full- or half-.



[image from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/traffic-signs]

 

[chris53]

Some time since I was down Station Road but I know the area well and I seem to remember it as a half-barrier crossing

 

[Razorblades]

Is there an RTT link anywhere? Absolutely awful week for the railways this

This is the one I used:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C32796/2026-06-25/detailed

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Just found this article, Lancaster Evening Post, re fitting of cameras, I assume this is a highly abused crossing
New cameras installed at level crossings to catch motorists breaking the law

Network Rail has installed hi-tech safety enforcement cameras at five high-risk locations including Station Road level crossing in Hoghton, near Preston.

 

[D6130]

No - the sign with a gate indicates: "Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead" - and applies to both gated and barriered crossings - full- or half-.

View attachment 206645

[image from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/traffic-signs]

For a few years in the late 1960s/early 1970s, there was a separate warning sign for automatic half-barrier crossings, showing the silhouettes of two half-barriers - one above the other - in opposing directions. However the sign depicted above - with the black two bar gate - has now been in use for decades to give warning of a level crossing with any types of gates or barriers.

 

[BRcrosslane]

Frighteningly local this. Believe the barrier related is a half-barrier unlike the ones further towards Preston in Bamber Bridge.

Not a good week at all on the railway...

Too early to speculate as to cause

 

[DiddyKongRacin]

Too early to speculate as to cause

True. I'll probably avoid speculating but I assume that if there was an issue with the crossing it would typically close, or would this leave it as a red signal?

 

[Annetts key]

True. I'll probably avoid speculating but I assume that if there was an issue with the crossing it would typically close, or would this leave it as a red signal?

AHB crossings are not interlocked to the railway signals like a manually, CCTV, or Manually Controlled Barriers with Obstacle Detection (MCB OD) are.

The barriers lower with gravity, so if power is lost they will lower. Most have an alarm that goes to the supervising signal box that will sound if the system self detects a fault. But this may not sound for all faults.

 

[MarkWi72]

So as an AHB this crossing is triggered by the approaching train, once signals are set in its favour? I did have a look at this crossing on You Tube and it is 20 seconds from when the barrier is fully horizontal, to the passing of the train across the crossing.

 

[Pnerick81]

Just round the corner from me . I know that crossing very well . Horrendous.

 

[ainsworth74]

So as an AHB this crossing is triggered by the approaching train, once signals are set in its favour?

There are no signals to protect an AHB on the railway side they function independent of the signalling system. If there's a fault an alarm will operate in the relevant box to let them know there's an issue but that's about it.

 

[Swedenorer]

Just found this article, Lancaster Evening Post, re fitting of cameras, I assume this is a highly abused crossing
New cameras installed at level crossings to catch motorists breaking the law

After that grandfather took himself and grandson round the barriers near Billingshurst in 2018 there isn't a crossing around here without such cameras. Last year i even found a temporary portable version on a foot crossing near Southbourne. I see this one is so equipped.

 

[Pnerick81]

So as an AHB this crossing is triggered by the approaching train, once signals are set in its favour? I did have a look at this crossing on You Tube and it is 20 seconds from when the barrier is fully horizontal, to the passing of the train across the crossing.

Are mintholme and hospital controlled by bamber bridge box ?

 

[JTR60]

Are mintholme and hospital controlled by bamber bridge box ?

I’m not 100% sure but I think Bamber Bridge is just a crossing box, I’d expect them to be controlled by Preston PSB.