Car hit by train at level crossing in Leicestershire 14/10/26

[JonnySeagull]

A woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries after a car was hit by a freight train on a level crossing in Leicestershire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it was called to the crossing in Rearsby at about 20:35 BST on Tuesday.

Network Rail said the vehicle had become "stranded" at the crossing, and that the driver had got out of the car before the crash.

A BTP spokesperson said the woman was the only person in the vehicle, and she was taken to hospital to be assessed.

She was assisted out of the car by members of the public before emergency services arrived.

Inquiries are ongoing to establish why the vehicle was on the tracks, the spokesperson added.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c63r5pdpnl1xo

Not seen anything about this on here yet. Fortunately the driver was out of the car before it was hit, apparently they turned onto the rail tracks thinking the level crossing was a road junction. I have seen pictures that aren't in the news report but I'm not sure if I'm OK to share them yet, it was 66019 that was involved.

Edit-Attached a picture of the condition of the car following the incident

 

[Rail2002]

And that is why you don't mess around on the railway. That car won't be turning a wheel again. Hope the train driver is ok after the shock.

 

[JonnySeagull]

And that is why you don't mess around on the railway. That car won't be turning a wheel again. Hope the train driver is ok after the shock.

I didn't see any reference to the driver in the news report or from the person who showed me the pictures so hopefully they're OK.

 

[Towers]

Hopefully the motorist will have their licence removed. Jesus

 

[norbitonflyer]

I didn't see any reference to the driver in the news report or from the person who showed me the pictures so hopefully they're OK.

The BBC report says the driver had already got out of the car before it was hit

 

[JonnySeagull]

The BBC report says the driver had already got out of the car before it was hit

Sorry, I wasn't very clear, I meant no reference to the driver of the train. A member of the public helped the driver of the car out of their vehicle before the impact fortunately.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Hopefully the motorist will have their licence removed. Jesus

We don’t actually know why the car was on the crossing, it might be driver error, it might be mechanical, it might even be railway error.

I’m just glad everyone seems to be ok.

 

[JonnySeagull]

We don’t actually know why the car was on the crossing, it might be driver error, it might be mechanical, it might even be railway error.

I’m just glad everyone seems to be ok.

I do know someone involved with the aftermath of the incident and apparently the driver got confused and thought that the crossing was a road junction and attempted to turn onto the railway. The car then got stuck and someone helped the driver out before the impact (thankfully) which pushed the car approximately half a mile. I have seen pictures of the immediate aftermath but it was requested that I don't share them.

 

[Ediswan]

We don’t actually know why the car was on the crossing, it might be driver error, it might be mechanical, it might even be railway error.

The car damage looks very much like it was hit from behind (not the more common side-on). That constrains the plausible scenarios..

 

[Tetchytyke]

I do know someone involved with the aftermath of the incident and apparently the driver got confused and thought that the crossing was a road junction and attempted to turn onto the railway.

Thanks, that would tie in with the damage being more at the back of the car. I really do hope everyone, especially the driver of the train, was ok.

 

[sharpley]

Looks like it was the Luton Crescent Road - Mountsorrel service involved. 18 minutes early passing Frisby signal box, 399 mins late passing Syston East Junction.

 

[38Cto15E]

I have been known to have spent time watching train ops at this location. Network did well to get the car back to the crossing, maybe they summoned one of those Merc type rail/road thingies.
One time I was there and the barriers came down, I got my camera out and nothing happened rail wise. after about 15 minutes the cars both sides were getting frustrated so I went to the phone and rang the controllers.
They said the Intermodal was having some adhesion problems but would be along shortly and all eventually cleared.
Maybe the driver had been to the pub in Thrussington for Early Doors.

 

[Spartacus]

Looks like it was the Luton Crescent Road - Mountsorrel service involved. 18 minutes early passing Frisby signal box, 399 mins late passing Syston East Junction.

Driver probably thinking he'd get an early finish massing through Melton....

I did initially wonder if they might have come around the corner too fast and lost control, but with no apparent damage to the fencing it seems the driver's explanation of a wrong turn is more likely. "Turn right AFTER the level crossing"? Isn't there some nunnery or convent or something around there?

The photo of the aftermath, as well as another I've seen of the 66 looking like it's trying to mount the Audi, would be good to use on publicity of the dangers of crossing misuse, especially as there were no injuries involved.

Lucky it slid along the railhead really, given it travelled about half a mile, if there's been some sort of obstruction like a bridge, or it had dug into the ballast it might not have ended so well.

 

[Towers]

We don’t actually know why the car was on the crossing, it might be driver error, it might be mechanical, it might even be railway error.

I’m just glad everyone seems to be ok.

I’m struggling to think of which forms of mechanical issue or ‘railway error’ result in a car turning off of a level crossing and onto a railway line!

 

[edwin_m]

It’s possible the positioning of the equipment gave the impression in the dark that the driver was over the crossing when they were only part way across.

 

[172007]

Assuming the vehicle approached from tje direction the pictires are taken then the former railway building does give the impression its a frontage onto a road rather than a railway. Immagine once closer with the wig wags flashing the level crossing is unmistakable as a railway and not a road but perhaps not.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Assuming the vehicle approached from tje direction the pictires are taken then the former railway building does give the impression its a frontage onto a road rather than a railway. Immagine once closer with the wig wags flashing the level crossing is unmistakable as a railway and not a road but perhaps not.

Are you suggesting that the wig-wags were flashing when the vehicle was turned onto the railway?

 

[norbitonflyer]

I’m struggling to think of which forms of mechanical issue or ‘railway error’ result in a car turning off of a level crossing and onto a railway line!

Not turning off - but it is possible for a vehicle to break down anywhere. Unlikely in this case I think, as it was aapparently hit from behind rather than broadside

 

[172007]

Are you suggesting that the wig-wags were flashing when the vehicle was turned onto the railway?

You correctly have me there, i suspect they were not which would make the error slightly more understandable even though it is still a struggle to understand it.

Wonder if a railway incursion has happened before here. Might be worth being looked at. Are there any car driving simulators in existence to simulate road layout designs etc to see how people react, take away the level crossing signs amd see how many turn down the railway with a satnav command. Maybe the signs for a level crossing dont nessasarily imprint in slme peoples minds and they only react to the wigwags.

 

[AlterEgo]

It seems likely the wig wags weren't in operation and the driver has becone target focused on slowing and turning right assuming they were coming from the north. I'll wager the driver wanted to end up at that house adjacent to the crossing and didn't realise the turn was behind it rather than in front, and has missed the level crossing.

All this "should lose their licence" stuff is a bit performative. Train drivers are also at risk of becoming target focused like everyone else, and the environment is carefully and expensively designed so they hopefully do not. The same does not necessarily happen with or roads. Level crossings are the principal risk to life on the railway.

All of that said, we don't really know why this incident happened and we probably never will, because our society is not especially keen for us to learn about driving mistakes in a "just culture".

 

[trainmania100]

I suppose it's easy if you're old and driving in the dark, that coming from the below angle, taking a right turn you might easily be mistaken and carry on onto the track. Obviously it shouldn't happen if you don't know how to drive in the dark properly. In fact it shouldn't happen at all. Anything could be to blame, road markings for example, so be interesting to see the outcome of any investigations.

 

[swt_passenger]

I suppose it's easy if you're old and driving in the dark, that coming from the below angle, taking a right turn you might easily be mistaken and carry on onto the track. Obviously it shouldn't happen if you don't know how to drive in the dark properly. In fact it shouldn't happen at all. Anything could be to blame, road markings for example, so be interesting to see the outcome of any investigations.

I assume you meant “it shouldn’t happen if you do know” etc…

But I remember discussions here about similar turns happening twice at Brockenhurst, a busy full barrier crossing, right outside a signal box, in a relatively busy well lit village centre. One incident for each road direction, both made right turns onto the railway.

 

[whoosh]

I suppose it's easy if you're old and driving in the dark, that coming from the below angle, taking a right turn you might easily be mistaken and carry on onto the track. Obviously it shouldn't happen if you don't know how to drive in the dark properly. In fact it shouldn't happen at all. Anything could be to blame, road markings for example, so be interesting to see the outcome of any investigations.

Did they come from that direction? I can see how it happened if coming from the north. In the dark the old station buildings could look like a row of houses.
What with rows of houses traditionally being on streets, it being dark, and being preoccupied with missing a right turn earlier, it's perhaps and easier mistake than you'd think.

 

[6Gman]

I suppose it's easy if you're old and driving in the dark, that coming from the below angle, taking a right turn you might easily be mistaken and carry on onto the track. Obviously it shouldn't happen if you don't know how to drive in the dark properly. In fact it shouldn't happen at all. Anything could be to blame, road markings for example, so be interesting to see the outcome of any investigations.

At what age do you feel people should stop driving at night?

 

[trainmania100]

At what age do you feel people should stop driving at night?

Id say around 60. Unfortunately people continue to drive even when they (probably know) they shouldn't. My late grandfather was 70 and still driving, I'd be a passenger and he'd make very bizarre mistakes completely forgetting the rules of the road. Not giving way etc.

That's my personal opinion everyone's different though. Maybe could set the age threshold at retirement.

 

[cats_five]

Id say around 60. Unfortunately people continue to drive even when they (probably know) they shouldn't. My late grandfather was 70 and still driving, I'd be a passenger and he'd make very bizarre mistakes completely forgetting the rules of the road. Not giving way etc.

That's my personal opinion everyone's different though. Maybe could set the age threshold at retirement.

You must be very young to think 60 is old. Very, very young.

 

[trainmania100]

You must be very young to think 60 is old. Very, very young.

Actually I'm half way there and already feel old :-P

Unfortunately we all make mistakes, regardless of age, just like this driver .

 

[AlterEgo]

You must be very young to think 60 is old. Very, very young.

Someone who is 60 has quite poor night vision compared to a 20 year old, needing three times as much light to see clearly.

 

[Unobrow]

A lot of very sweeping statements regarding 60yr olds. I wonder if these people will be handing their licenses in when they reach that age?

 

[Krokodil]

Someone who is 60 has quite poor night vision compared to a 20 year old, needing three times as much light to see clearly.

This is why renewal of driving licences should be subject to an optician's report.