• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Whitland level crossing crash

Status
Not open for further replies.

oversteer

Member
Joined
26 Jan 2011
Messages
742
about an hour ago

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16246123

BBC News said:
Train and lorry collide on level crossing near Whitland

A passenger train has been involved in a crash with a lorry and trailer carrying hay at a level crossing in Carmarthenshire.

Emergency services say three people on the Milford Haven to Manchester service suffered minor injuries near Whitland at 09:50 GMT.

Oxygen was given to one and another was treated for a head wound before they were taken to hospital.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) said up to 60 passengers were on board the train.

Replacement buses are running between Whitland, Milford Haven and Fishguard with all train services on the south Wales line west of Whitland being stopped.

ATW said the train involved was the 0910 Milford Haven to Manchester service.

It was not derailed in the incident and BBC Wales reporter Aled Scourfield, close to the scene, said the lorry was still upright.

He said an eyewitness said the train driver braked sharply before the collision which helped prevent more serious injuries.

The incident happened at the Llanboidy level crossing on a minor road near a spot called Crossing Cottage.

British Transport Police (BTP), Dyfed-Powys Police and paramedics were at the scene between Whitland and Henllan Amgoed.
Map of incident scene

The Welsh Ambulance Service said two ambulances and the Wales Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.

Crews treated three people for minor injuries before taking them to West Wales general hospital in Carmarthen for further treatment.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue said it appeared the crossing barrier came down on the lorry before the train collided with it.

A BTP spokesman said: "An investigation is under way into the cause of the collision, including how the vehicle came to be on the tracks, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has been notified."

Engineers and rail managers have gone to assess the damage and help passengers.

Network Rail said it had sent an emergency team to the scene.

"Our priority now is to safeguard the safety of all onboard, whilst assisting the police with the investigation before we carry out any emergency repairs," said a spokesperson.

Local councillor Sue Allen said she was not aware of any accidents at the crossing before although it did feature in a television safety campaign last year.

She said: "I am deeply concerned especially as it's the holiday season and when you hear of accidents like this before Christmas.

"I am also concerned for the staff on the train. My husband and I cycle that way regularly and we do stop at the level crossing."


Quick look on Twitter:

According to Fire Service, four on train injured

Service involved is the 09:08 Arriva Trains Wales service from Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly

Lorry driver uninjured

Big disruption to services
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Pacerpilot

Member
Joined
7 Jun 2010
Messages
347
Yeah, its Llanboidy AHBC crossing. Traincrew are ok, other than being shaken.
He'd have been doing around 65mph on the approach to the crossing, preparing to brake for Whitland.
 

neonison

Member
Joined
25 Feb 2007
Messages
259
Location
Standedge, One hill, four tunnels
BBC quotes:

"Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue said it appeared the crossing barrier came down on the lorry before the train collided with it."

So if all was operating as it should have been, the lorry attempted to cross when the lights were already flashing or was for some reason stalled on the crossing?
 

sonic2009

Established Member
Joined
19 Jan 2010
Messages
5,048
Location
Crewe
Glad everyone is okay.

Disruption to services are as follows. :

Buses are running between :

Carmarthen & Milford Haven
Carmarthen & Fishguard Harbour

Until further notice. ATW are making effort to get passengers to Fishguard for 14:30 Ferry to Rosslare

Is this level crossing at Whitland? A Full Barrierd one? Or like a Half Barrired one?
 

tsr

Established Member
Joined
15 Nov 2011
Messages
7,400
Location
Between the parallel lines
Wouldn't these barriers have sensors to prevent them hitting a vehicle or, more importantly, a pedestrian? Surely it would be a bit of an oversight not to have them.

I hope everyone recovers from this soon.
 

GB

Established Member
Joined
16 Nov 2008
Messages
6,555
Location
Somewhere
Wouldn't these barriers have sensors to prevent them hitting a vehicle or, more importantly, a pedestrian? Surely it would be a bit of an oversight not to have them.

I hope everyone recovers from this soon.

Perhaps you would like them made of cotton wool as well?

The lights flash, the audible alarm sounds and the barriers lower, what more do people want?
 

Tomnick

Established Member
Joined
10 Jun 2005
Messages
5,933
I don't see how sensors (to prevent the barriers hitting any obstruction) would have prevented the accident - being hit by a descending barrier is (relatively) a minor inconvenience; being hit by a train (which is going to arrive at the crossing at speed regardless of whether the barrier has lowered or not) is much more serious for all concerned.

All the best for a speedy recovery to those involved.
 

martin2345uk

Established Member
Joined
21 Sep 2011
Messages
2,401
Location
Essex
Ordinary road traffic lights for the sizable proportion of drivers who seem to think that flashing red lights, audible alarms etc. mean something less than STOP?

I've always wondered why they don't have standard traffic lights at level crossings... I'm sure there must be a reason, but I bet people would be less inclined to go through a standard red light...?
 

Hydro

Established Member
Joined
5 Mar 2007
Messages
2,204
Ordinary road traffic lights for the sizable proportion of drivers who seem to think that flashing red lights, audible alarms etc. mean something less than STOP?

I've always wondered why they don't have standard traffic lights at level crossings... I'm sure there must be a reason, but I bet people would be less inclined to go through a standard red light...?

AFAIK it's because emergency vehicles can use a standard red as give way in an emergency, but two flashing reds are not to be passed under any circumstances.
 

GB

Established Member
Joined
16 Nov 2008
Messages
6,555
Location
Somewhere
Yeah, its Llanboidy AHBC crossing. Traincrew are ok, other than being shaken.
He'd have been doing around 65mph on the approach to the crossing, preparing to brake for Whitland.

The train manager has been conveyed to hospital along with 4 passengers.
 

PFX

Member
Joined
18 Dec 2011
Messages
355
but I bet people would be less inclined to go through a standard red light...?

Not the way people here drive they wouldn't!

Either way, I just can't fathom why someone would think it's okay to try and beat the train if, indeed, that is what happened. At least there don't appear to have been any serious injuries which is the most important thing.
 

GB

Established Member
Joined
16 Nov 2008
Messages
6,555
Location
Somewhere
More people run standard red traffic lights then they do level crossings lights and changing the level crossings lights to traffic lights just diminishes the differences between road and rail which will not help anyone.

It's not an infrastructure problem it's an attitude and judicial problem.
 

ANorthernGuard

Established Member
Joined
8 Oct 2010
Messages
2,662
What is it about the Milford Haven to Mcr Piccadilly service, wasn't there an incident a year or so ago on the same route involving a 175?
 

ChrisCooper

Established Member
Joined
7 Sep 2005
Messages
1,787
Location
Loughborough
Can people stop speculating until we get the facts. I get so sick how everyone goes on the defensive when there is even the slightest hint that rail staff might be responsible, but it's a free for all when it's anyone none rail. Remember, there are plenty of people who use this forum who work in the road transport industry and I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds it offensive how we are often viewed.
 

WatcherZero

Established Member
Joined
25 Feb 2010
Messages
10,272
Says no derailment but the cab is pretty concertinaed (might even be body twisting), might be a while before this unit returns to service even if the damage is repairable.
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
7,035
Location
Gloucester
Fatal accident at Moreton-on-Lugg, near Hereford,16 January 2010. Train 1V75, the 08:30 hrs Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven service

There have been three accidents to date involving this route:

16th January 2010 as above - 175003 1V75 0830 MAN - MFH at Moreton-on-Lugg.
31st January 2011 - 175108 - involving the same service (1V75) at Kidwelly.
and today, 19th December 2011 - 175002 1W21 0908 MFH - MAN at Whitland.

And several of our 175s have caught fire.
 

142094

Established Member
Joined
7 Nov 2009
Messages
8,789
Location
Newcastle
BBC News has a picture, looks like it hit either a truck or trailer carrying bales of straw. Leading cab is very badly damaged.
 

DaveHarries

Established Member
Joined
12 Dec 2011
Messages
2,574
Location
England
Firstly can I wish a speedy recovery to the train manager and the four passengers who are now in hospital.

Secondly I can't help wondering why AHBs don't have a safeguard by which unless the barriers are completely closed at both ends the signal doesn't turn green for the train? Presumably the crossing might now be converted from AHB into MCB + CCTV controlled from Whitland, about 1 mile east, but in the meantime this sort of thing only makes the idiocies of not having gate boxes a lot clearer.

Dave
 

ValleyLines142

Established Member
Joined
25 Jul 2011
Messages
7,035
Location
Gloucester
Firstly can I wish a speedy recovery to the train manager and the four passengers who are now in hospital.

Secondly I can't help wondering why AHBs don't have a safeguard by which unless the barriers are completely closed at both ends the signal doesn't turn green for the train? Presumably the crossing might now be converted from AHB into MCB + CCTV controlled from Whitland, about 1 mile east, but in the meantime this sort of thing only makes the idiocies of not having gate boxes a lot clearer.

Dave

I believe there is now seven people in hospital.
 

WatcherZero

Established Member
Joined
25 Feb 2010
Messages
10,272
Quite often after an accident a number of people make their own way to hospital instead of waiting for emergency services, this is why casualties are often revised up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top