FOG AROUND CROSSINGS

Network Rail should improve existing processes for managing safety at passive level crossings. No small ask, given that such crossings account for more than half of all 6,000 level crossings in the country. But nevertheless, that is the recommendation of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch RAIB) report into the accident at Tibberton No 8 footpath crossing in Worcestershire in February this year when a CrossCountry train travelling at 100mph struck and fatally injured a pedestrian on a ‘passive’ level crossing in foggy conditions. Such crossings provide no ‘active’ warning of the approach of a train and rely for safe use on the user looking and listening for trains.