Train hit a lorry at a level crossing

[DSY011]

A man from Romania has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a goods train hit a lorry at a railway level crossing in Norfolk.
The crash happened at about 09:30 GMT on the Downham Market southern bypass when the GB Railfreight train struck a lorry.
GB Railfreight said there were no injuries as a result of the accident.
A 36-year-old man from the Romanian city of Sighetu Marmatiei was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been notified of the incident."

[pre65]

Some foreign drivers are just dangerous.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-30039395

[pbowler]

Originally Posted by pre65

Some foreign drivers are just dangerous.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-30039395

And so are quite a few British ones Philip.

[Beeyar Wunby]

Downham Market bypass is an Automatic Half-Barrier, so the right hand side of the road would have been open.

The sooner these things get phased out, the better !

[Bubblewrap]

The idea of half barriers is drivers can escape from them, full barriers can trap drivers(idiots) on the track.
In most(not all full barriers are controlled by a signal box such as in Lincoln.

[Beeyar Wunby]

Originally Posted by BubIlewrap

The idea of half barriers is drivers can escape from them, full barriers can trap drivers(idiots) on the track.
In most(not all full barriers are controlled by a signal box such as in Lincoln.

I believe it's a deeply flawed idea. If road users obeyed the instructions for use and complied with the wigwags there would be no risk of entrapment.

Half barriers are just an invitation to 'slalomers'.

The next generation of automatic crossings will be full barrier, and have ground radar to detect the presence of any object between the two gates. The barriers will raise again if anyone is 'trapped'. Otherwise they stay down.

[bramleyman]

Originally Posted by Beeyar Wunby

Downham Market bypass is an Automatic Half-Barrier, so the right hand side of the road would have been open.

The sooner these things get phased out, the better !

There is also CCTV installed at this same crossing. From the photo in the papers and on local tv news, the lorry was on the correct side of the road.

On Friday night when returning home from Ely, I joined a queue at Ely due to lights flashing and a half barrier being down. One IDIOT couldn't wait, so drove round the half barrier, as I Prayed no train would hit him. The motorist behind, had the savvy to get out and use the phone, then told us Network Rail were on the way, and where possible, to turn round and use another route, which I did.