Wow that is unbelievable.

There are a lot of Africans back home who still put their ear to the track to listen for an approaching train. Fortunately, the trains are so slow that there is not much chance of them being hit. The biggest problem is them running across the track just in front of the train.

Sometimes it's not that simple. I had the misfortune to witness another near-miss several evenings ago at the infamous Waterbeach AHB (Automatic Half Barrier) crossing.

A lady with wheely-suitcase alighted from the down train and started to walk across the road. Just as she was inside the barrier the sirens & wigwags started. She hesitated long enough for the barrier to drop behind her, so apparently blocking her escape. She then decided to continue, even though the rear of the down train was completely blocking her view of the up line.

She made it to the other side about 2 seconds before the GA non-stopper came through at 75 mph.

If she'd stayed put on the down side and waited inside the barrier, she would have been perfectly safe as the down train was gently moving away from her. But the fact that she was INSIDE the barrier un-nerved her and she decided to continue. This is unfortunate because the whole point of AHBs is that the other side of the road doesn't have a barrier in order to provide an escape route - but that's not obvious when the barrier is already behind you !

Most people don't appreciate that on many AHBs, when a train is running at linespeed there is only 7 seconds between the the barrier dropping and the first train arriving because it's treadle operated !

They see a manually operated crossing such as Downham Market where the barriers go down for a long time before the train arrives and assume that all crossings are the same. The delay on manually operated crossings is because the bobby can't clear the approach signal without interlock from the gates and so has to drop the gates well in advance of the approaching train - but conversely most AHBs are not tied into the signalling system.

My personal view as a driver is that AHBs are fatally flawed - they will be removed when the new signalling centres are fully running, but until then people are in significant danger.

If there is a plus side to this situation it's that this person will never do it again. She was terrified (as indeed were the rest of us).

BW

A very valid view BW, and as per my previous comments, not all of us are blessed with being of sound mind and able to reason. Some have mental impairments that can seriously mar their judgments of risk.
Is it not better to make level crossings safe by way of complete barriers, that are as fool proof as can be manufactured. Footbridges and road bridges are also a better alternative to barriers! However I know that would be both expensive and difficult in some instances.
I feel sure with today's technology we should be able to come up with a better way!
Just another view
Cheers
Phil