Bridge Strike at Machynlleth (01/09)

[TravelDream]

A tipper truck has hit a bridge in Machynlleth. Buses are running between Newtown and Aberystwyth/ Tywyn.
This is the second bridge strike in the area in the last fortnight.

More pics are on the Daily Post site - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-a487-shut-trains-disrupted-21452079

 

[John Luxton]

According to gossip on the Talyllyn Railway facebook page which posted this earlier to warn people they needed to find an alternative route there is some suggestion that the driver failed to fully lower the tipper and that it would have normally fitted.

 

[thejuggler]

Sumilar to what I saw the other day.

Tipper truck, but with a grab resting on the spoil in the back. The cab went under easily, the grab arm missed the bridge by inches.

 

[duncanp]

What with the recent bridge strike near Plymouth, I do agree with those who have suggested that Network Rail should pursue those responsible for incidents like this one for the costs involved.

 

[Spartacus]

Wouldn't be the first time, there's a lot of construction work going on near there, I think in relation to a new river bridge. No doubt the exact circumstances will come out. Very long diversion for road traffic due to other closures, all the way past Cross Foxes and down past Mallwyd, or over single track roads through the hills, which won't be any quicker if any number of people have the same idea in the other direction. About 31 miles to divert the long way, 21 miles the short way, about 45/50 minutes either way.

Sounds like a similar level of damage to the bridge as in Plymouth.

 

[Watershed]

What with the recent bridge strike near Plymouth, I do agree with those who have suggested that Network Rail should pursue those responsible for incidents like this one for the costs involved.

They can and do. 'Unfortunately', insurance will cover the cost so the driver will walk away scot-free.

 

[DarloRich]

What with the recent bridge strike near Plymouth, I do agree with those who have suggested that Network Rail should pursue those responsible for incidents like this one for the costs involved.

they do.

 

[duncanp]

They can and do. 'Unfortunately', insurance will cover the cost so the driver will walk away scot-free.

Perhaps the insurance company should investigate the extent to which the driver is responsible for the incident, and whether he or she has been involved in incidents of a similar nature.

There should be a scheme whereby drivers have points put on their licence if they are found to be negligent, and too many points at any given time results in suspension of the licence, just as happens with car drivers for speeding and other offences.

 

[norbitonflyer]

They can and do. 'Unfortunately', insurance will cover the cost so the driver will walk away scot-free.

He can still be prosecuted, and even if he was covered by his employer's insurance rather than his own, he will have to declare the accident if he wants to get insurance himself in the future.

 

[DarloRich]

Perhaps the insurance company should investigate the extent to which the driver is responsible for the incident, and whether he or she has been involved in incidents of a similar nature.

That is covered by your increased insurance premium. Are you happy for the same rules to be applied to you if/when you make an insurance claim on your car policy?

There should be a scheme whereby drivers have points put on their licence if they are found to be negligent, and too many points at any given time results in suspension of the licence, just as happens with car drivers for speeding and other offences.

What do you think happens in these circumstances? The police will investigate and lay charges as they see fit. Your suggestion seems to be that crashing into a railway bridge, regardless of the reason, should be sperate offense with a lower burden of proof than you would face in a similar situation in your car.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Sep 2021 ==

They can and do. 'Unfortunately', insurance will cover the cost so the driver will walk away scot-free.

Just as you would if you had an accident in your car. Would you be willing to be bound by the same rules if your car skidding into/over a bridge caused the railway line to be shut?

 

[AlbertBeale]

What with the recent bridge strike near Plymouth, I do agree with those who have suggested that Network Rail should pursue those responsible for incidents like this one for the costs involved.

Do you mean that Network Rail currently don't get the full cost of repairs / diversions / compensation payments etc from the lorry owner's insurance? Why on earth not? If for some reason they don't, and rules were changed so that they did, then presumably there'd be the threat of a consequent increase in vehicle insurance costs, which would concentrate lorry owners' minds...

 

[PHILIPE]

Wouldn't be the first time, there's a lot of construction work going on near there, I think in relation to a new river bridge. No doubt the exact circumstances will come out. Very long diversion for road traffic due to other closures, all the way past Cross Foxes and down past Mallwyd, or over single track roads through the hills, which won't be any quicker if any number of people have the same idea in the other direction. About 31 miles to divert the long way, 21 miles the short way, about 45/50 minutes either way.

Sounds like a similar level of damage to the bridge as in Plymouth.

From another picture I've seen there does appear to be a work site on the opposite side of the road from the direction of travel of the truck.

 

[tomwills98]

Down line and platform 2 reopened so trains between Aberystwyth-Birmingham are back running in both directions, looks like it's still buses between Tywyn and Machynlleth. Up line may need some repair work as it looks like the track's shifted

 

[Watershed]

Just as you would if you had an accident in your car. Would you be willing to be bound by the same rules if your car skidding into/over a bridge caused the railway line to be shut?

In circumstances like the titular bridge strike, as well as the incident in Plymouth, drivers can and should be prosecuted for endangering passengers by the railway, under section 34 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This carries a potential prison sentence whereas careless driving (it might not be possible to prove dangerous driving) 'merely' means points and a fine.

 

[DarloRich]

In circumstances like the titular bridge strike, as well as the incident in Plymouth, drivers can and should be prosecuted for endangering passengers by the railway, under section 34 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This carries a potential prison sentence whereas careless driving (it might not be possible to prove dangerous driving) 'merely' means points and a fine.

It is difficult to make it stick and you wont get 2 years imprisonment for such an offense.

Of course, that should extend to all road users, not just wagon drivers.

 

[David57]

In these cases, the Driver will almost certainly be called to a meeting with the relevant Traffic Commissioner, and will probably get a harder sanction on their licence than a court would give.
Tea, with no biscuits!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Just as you would if you had an accident in your car. Would you be willing to be bound by the same rules if your car skidding into/over a bridge caused the railway line to be shut?

Non-HGV drivers can and are prosecuted in such cases. The car driver involved in the Selby rail crash went to prison. I don't know what happened to the Oxshott lorry driver though - I understand he'd only passed his LGV test three weeks before the accident.

 

[Master29]

Seems like national what is geometry week for HGV drivers.

 

[furnessvale]

Seems like national what is geometry week for HGV drivers.

Nothing unusual about this week. There are an average of FIVE bridge strikes EVERY day!

 

[Ianigsy]

Network Rail need to warn lorry drivers that the next one gets bricked in like Henry.

 

[Master29]

Network Rail need to warn lorry drivers that the next one gets bricked in like Henry.

Wasn't that considered the TtT Engine episode that upset the most children? Even the grandson hated it as he liked Henry. The Fat controller should have been tried at Nurnberg for that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Sep 2021 ==

Nothing unusual about this week. There are an average of FIVE bridge strikes EVERY day!

Obviously an epidemic now then.

 

[peteb]

Allowing a lorry to strike a low bridge seems careless. Isn't there an offence of careless driving? Problem is lorry drivers are in short supply so is it in the public interest to prosecute when only damage to property caused?

 

[Llanigraham]

They can and do. 'Unfortunately', insurance will cover the cost so the driver will walk away scot-free.

Except that can and are prosecuted for "Driving without due care and attention" or whatever it is now called, and risk losing their licence.

And yes I understand this was a wagon that had just exitted the work site for the new Dyfi Bridge.

 

[Gloster]

Non-HGV drivers can and are prosecuted in such cases. The car driver involved in the Selby rail crash went to prison. I don't know what happened to the Oxshott lorry driver though - I understand he'd only passed his LGV test three weeks before the accident.

The Oxshott driver received five points on his licence and a fine of £100, plus a £15 victim surcharge and £43 costs. (Source: Sutton & Croydon Guardian, 3 June 2011.)

 

[Starmill]

Allowing a lorry to strike a low bridge seems careless. Isn't there an offence of careless driving? Problem is lorry drivers are in short supply so is it in the public interest to prosecute when only damage to property caused?

It would need to be beyond doubt that the driving was actually dangerous to secure a conviction, which may not be clear or have good evidence.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Whilst, of course, it is most likely the drivers fault, there are situations where the driver is blameless but still hits a bridge. I think we sound let justice take its path before deciding the drivers fate.

 

[furnessvale]

bviously an epidemic now then.

Nothing new about it. There have been multiple strikes daily for many years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Sep 2021 ==

It would need to be beyond doubt that the driving was actually dangerous to secure a conviction, which may not be clear or have good evidence.

The suggested charge was "careless" driving, not "dangerous".

 

[swt_passenger]

IIRC the driver who took down a bridge on the M20, (with an overheight JCB on the back of his lorry), was convicted of dangerous driving.

 

[Skymonster]

I presume all those baying for the lorry driver’s blood in the form of license revocation, cost recovery or even more will be equally vociferous in demanding severe sanctions next time a train driver SPADs or runs through buffer stops.

 

[norbitonflyer]

IIRC the driver who took down a bridge on the M20, (with an overweight JCB on the back of his lorry), was convicted of dangerous driving.

It was overheight, I think - the lorry and JCB were passing under the footbridge, not over it.