Person hit by a train at Witham - 24/01/2013

[tsr]

Unfortunately, a person has been hit by a train at Witham. At the time of posting this, the lines are currently blocked, and I have no details on when they may be reopened.

I believe the service involved may have been the 1P46 1700 London Liverpool Street - Norwich, which is recorded as passing Witham at 1735.

As always, a very sad event.
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Information: Passengers for Norwich/Ipswich are permitted to travel via Cambridge. Both lines remain blocked.

 

[Dave1987]

What makes me really sad about this is people are just complaining that their journey is being lengthened and they are being delayed. Have we got to that stage where people only care about themselves?? Thoughts with family of person hit and the driver, very very sad.

 

[tsr]

What makes me really sad about this is people are just complaining that their journey is being lengthened and they are being delayed. Have we got to that stage where people only care about themselves?? Thoughts with family of person hit and the driver, very very sad.

I had a look at Twitter and interestingly enough I would say I saw an equal number of tweets of sympathy (etc.) versus anger/complaint.

I am not using GA services tonight so would have no reason for complaint, even if I had that mindset, which, in this situation, I don't.

 

[Kt]

This happened 'on' Motts Lane Level Crossing.

RAIB are involved.

Another crossing tragedy for the Anglia route

 

[tsr]

1P46 has now reported 116 late at Colchester.
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This happened 'on' Motts Lane Level Crossing.

RAIB are involved.

Another crossing tragedy for the Anglia route

Not another one!

Here is the view of the line in one direction (taken very close to the crossing gates):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/6526700693/in/photostream/

Here is a view of the comprehensive safety signage and the warning lights:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/6526678267/in/photostream/

And a closeup shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/6526689099/in/photostream/

The surface of the crossing:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/6526683433/in/photostream/

Thanks to "Cooperail" on Flickr.

Obviously, the crossing setup may have changed since these photos were taken. I do not know.

It appears the crossing should shortly be replaced by a bridge. It's a great shame this action could not have been taken sooner (I am not blaming anyone for this - just saying that a footbridge would probably have prevented the accident, had it been built). There is a short article on this at: http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/9516943.Witham__Footbridge_to_replace_level_crossing/

 

[GB]

The crossing is the same now as it was then.

A lot of people ignore the warnings though.
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...just saying that a footbridge would probably have prevented the accident, had it been built).

Or alternatively people learn to read and don't ignore blatant warnings.

 

[Kt]

Well I should hope that this tragic incident will speed up the construction of the proposed bridge! It shouldn't take someone losing their life though

 

[Dave1987]

I really do not want to make assumptions about what has happened as none of us know the circumstances but that is a crossing with clear warning lights and I believe there is a claxon as well.

I severely hope it was not someone disobeying the instructions on the crossing. If it was then this HAS to stop. People need to be told that the safety information is there to stop incidents like this occuring. But I am not suggesting the person hit in this incident had disobeyed the signs.

There was a recent RAIB report out for a gent who got hit and killed at another crossing. He had his earphones in and went to cycle over the crossing even though the signs state "cyclists dismount".

 

[455driver]

There was a recent RAIB report out for a gent who want hit and killed at another crossing. He had his earphones in and went to cycle over the crossing even though the signs state "cyclists dismount".

Didnt one of the two walkers actually hold the gate open for him?

 

[Dave1987]

Didnt one of the two walkers actually hold the gate open for him?

Yup they did. It was a tragedy dont get me wrong but he clearly disobeyed the signs.

 

[Mr Sam]

theres a pic on flickr of a farther and young son stood the wrong side of the gate on a similar crossing as a train approaches :roll:

 

[Southern Dvr]

I was there only last week & videoed the blatant abuse of the crossing.

http://youtu.be/9Tbud7St19M?t=14m39s

The footage was made available to BTP & Network Rail also.

A sad sad business.

 

[dk1]

I severely hope it was not someone disobeying the instructions on the crossing. If it was then this HAS to stop. People need to be told that the safety information is there to stop incidents like this occuring. But I am not suggesting the person hit in this incident had disobeyed the signs.

They do it all the time at this crossing. Approaching at 100mph in either direction they chance it several times a day. It is a main pedestrian access to from the industrial estate to Morrisons & the West side of the town.

 

[Pugwash]

What makes me really sad about this is people are just complaining that their journey is being lengthened and they are being delayed. Have we got to that stage where people only care about themselves?? Thoughts with family of person hit and the driver, very very sad.

Last night I think the complaints were more of frustration, rather than genunge lack of care for the deceased. it has been a bad couple of weeks on GA and people use twitter and the like to sound off.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

young lad with a bike by all accounts... and yes it was the 1700 Ex Liv St

 

[Dieseldriver]

Last night I think the complaints were more of frustration, rather than genunge lack of care for the deceased. it has been a bad couple of weeks on GA and people use twitter and the like to sound off.

Do you not think that is a sad indication of the selfish attitudes within our society though? Someone is killed in a horrific way, their families lives ripped apart, the driver and other staff/emergency services having to deal with the aftermath and trauma yet most people are only concerned with the delay it has on their oh so important lives.
Not sure how this incident was caused and the circumstances but I find it painfully ironic when someone commits suicide by jumping in front of a train and people are more concerned with the hour delay to their journey rather than the death of a fellow person, maybe if those selfish, ignorant attitudes weren't so widespread there would be less people feeling they can't live in this world??

 

[455driver]

maybe if those selfish, ignorant attitudes weren't so widespread there would be less people feeling they can't live in this world??

There is even an car advert about selfish attitudes now.

A bloke has lost his cat and well the new car owners just drive off laughing.


Dont know what car its for but it just sums up modern day "society" with F U Jack I am all right attitude.

 

[Zoidberg]

There is even an car advert about selfish attitudes now.

A bloke has lost his cat and well the new car owners just drive off laughing.


Dont know what car its for but it just sums up modern day "society" with F U Jack I am all right attitude.

Peugeot 208

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJj_F6gOD9w

'Calm down dear, it's only a commercial'

 

[455driver]

'Calm down dear, it's only a commercial'

Wheres the tongue sticking out smillie when you want one!

 

[Zoidberg]

Wheres the tongue sticking out smillie when you want one!

Yes, that'd be a winner

 

[igloo]

Here is a view of the comprehensive safety signage and the warning lights:

And a closeup shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/6526689099/in/photostream/

One sign says "IF NO LIGHT - PROCEED WITH CAUTION" while the other says "Cross only when green light shows".

That seems like a contradiction to me, but I guess that normally either red or green would be showing, and only if something is broken would neither light be illuminated?

 

[Bald Rick]

This has made me rather cross.

A bridge has been proposed at this crossing for several years, and the money for a footbridge has been secured.

Unfortunately, the crossing is technically a bridleway, which makes the bridge much more complicated (wider, longer approach ramps, higher sidewalls). Aside from doubling the cost, it also becomes a rather sizeable blot on the landscape. It also means the bridge falls well outside the railway land foot print, requiring probable compulsory purchase orders etc.

So the obvious answer is to downgrade the crossing to footpath only, and put a much easier, cheaper bridge up. Especially as horses are not particulary common in central Witham. If this had been done the bridge would have been built by now.

So hats off to whichever local authority planning or highways committee it was that refused to downgrade the crossing, thus preventing the quick build of a bridge.

 

[HH]

This is a tragedy, but you have to understand that there are regular suicides on the line (and as noted it's been a rough time recently) and the general view is that people choosing to commit suicide on the railway are selfish, attention-seekers. Now I don't know whether that's true, but I've never seen anyone rush to say otherwise...

 

[colchesterken]

I was thinking when train spotting at Jays lane. Nr Marks Tey Would it not be easer and cheaper to put in a tunnel rather than a foot or indeed a horse bridge
A tunnel would only have to be about 12ft high and be fitted with vandal proof lights
the aproaches could be sloped as deep or shallow as the locus. permits a shallow slope would allow a horse to be ridden.or cycling. If fitted with a very strong roof it could be quite shallow
However there is only so much that can be done I agree lockable gates would be good wired up to the red and green light. must have a one way lock to allow someone on the crossing to get out if the light changes
you cannot stop suicides people will just go off the platform unless we fit gates as per the jubilee line that is not possible

 

[bb21]

This is a tragedy, but you have to understand that there are regular suicides on the line (and as noted it's been a rough time recently) and the general view is that people choosing to commit suicide on the railway are selfish, attention-seekers.

Genreal view? In what sense?

Now I don't know whether that's true, but I've never seen anyone rush to say otherwise...

Then you couldn't have been looking very carefully at other similar threads lately then. :roll:

Anyway, how is this relevant, especially when there is no evidence to suggest that it is suicide?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Anyway, how is this relevant, especially when there is no evidence to suggest that it is suicide?

This occurred to me too, having seen the repeated misuse in that youtube clip posted earlier.

I'll never cease to be amazed by the sheer stupidity of some people- Last night as I called in the shops on my way home, a power cut hit the village, including street lighting and traffic signals. Within a couple of minutes, cars were flying through the junction at 30+mph, and this on icy roads in a moderate snowfall!

 

[HH]

Anyway, how is this relevant, especially when there is no evidence to suggest that it is suicide?

It's relevant to the criticism of people moaning on twitter; they didn't know it wasn't "the usual" which is a suicide.

 

[Dave1987]

Any misuse of a level crossing has to be made a criminal offence. For example that bus driver at manningtree. What did he get? Misuse is costing lives and needs to be punished to get the message out that it is not acceptable. Again I'm not saying this tragedy was caused by the deccessed misusing the crossing. But making it a criminal offence may reduce instances of this happening.

 

[Prairie_5542]

Apparently it was a teenage boy with a push bike who didn't make it across the crossing in time.

Very sad he lost his life.

Section 55 British Transport Commission Act- wouldn't it make it a tresspass if the warning lights came on?

 

[dk1]

Last night I think the complaints were more of frustration, rather than genunge lack of care for the deceased. it has been a bad couple of weeks on GA and people use twitter and the like to sound off.

People hide behind their phones so much & wouldnt dream of saying these things face to face. Sign of the times :roll: