Warleigh Weir warning as five near misses at level crossing in as many weeks

Monday 17 Jul 2017

Warleigh Weir warning as five near misses at level crossing in as many weeks

Region & Route:: Wales & Western: Western; | Wales & Western

Users of the renowned Warleigh Weir beauty spot at Claverton are being urged to pay more attention to the railway after reports of five near misses with trains in as many weeks.

Near misses with trains are more likely to happen in the warmer months Network Rail has revealed, and Claverton level crossing near Bath is busier in the summer months as people head to a renowned nearby picnic and swim spot.

Between May 28 and July 6 2017 Great Western Railway (GWR) has recorded five incidents at the level crossing, with similar increases in near misses recorded across the country.

New Network Rail data also reveals that over two thirds (70 per cent) of near misses are due to people being distracted while crossing the railway; with the top three causes highlighted as:

Friends (40 per cent),
Headphones (20 per cent) and
Mobile phones (12 per cent). Almost a third (29%) of young adults admit to using their mobile phone while crossing the railway

While Britain still has the safest rail network in Europe, level crossings are one of the biggest public safety risks on the railway. In the last five years there have been more than 2,000 incidents on level crossings involving young people.

Network Rail, GWR and British Transport Police are working together to inform people of the dangers of being distracted whilst using a level crossing.

Steve Melanophy, Community Safety Manager at Network Rail, explains: “Many people are aware of the issue of distraction for drivers, but it is very worrying that so many young adults admit to putting themselves at unnecessary risk by getting distracted when crossing the railway.”

“We are investing more than £100m to improve level crossing safety across Britain as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan, but we also need everyone who uses level crossings to do their bit too. By paying attention to the warnings at level crossings and avoiding distractions, we can all keep ourselves out of harm’s way.”

GWR’s Head of Safety, Angela Prescott said:

“While recorded accidents are thankfully very rare, the railway can be a dangerous place and we would urge all those using level crossings to pay full attention taking into account their surroundings.”

Inspector Becky Warren from British Transport Police (BTP) said: “Level crossings are there to help people cross the railway when it is safe to do so but pedestrians need to pay full attention when they use them.

“Sadly, our officers know the tragedy families are faced with after a loved one is killed at a level crossing. A moment of distraction, be that checking a text or changing a song, can leave devastation and heartbreak for families. “

To find out more about how to stay safe when using level crossings visit www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/

Notes to Editors

To help combat the issue of distraction at level crossings, Network Rail and British Transport Police are embracing new technologies to help reach young people and make them more aware of the dangers. The rail infrastructure company has produced a series of virtual reality films which can be used to educate children. They are also introducing geo- fencing at a number of level crossings where phone distraction has been flagged as high risk which will alert people using their phones near level crossings to put them away.

High risk level crossings we are Geo-targeting on Western route

Devon

Exeter - Red cow crossing, EX4 4TZ

Gloucestershire

Gannicox crossing, Stroud, GL4 4AH

Gannicox Road, Stroud, GL5 4EZ

Berkshire

Kintbury, Station Road, RG17 9UT

Hungerford, Station Road, RG170DX

Hungerford, Standers, RG17 0SN

Maidenhead, Furze Platt ABCL SL6 6AY

Shiplake , RG9 3PA

Wiltshire

Pewsey, Broomcroft Road, SN9 5HA

Westbury, Penliegh Park,BA133XS

Somerset

Bath, Claverton crossing, BA2 7BH

Weston S Mare, Finch Close, BS228SH

Weston S Mare, Loxton Rd, BS234PP

Chard, Westford Crossing, TA204QT

Taunton , FP Crossing, TA2 8RX

Network Rail and British Transport Police will be holding safety awareness events at the crossing over the coming weeks, where we will be engaging with the public for level crossing safety and highlighting distraction, including the use of alcohol and the visual impairment this causes when assessing risk. (I have beer goggles to use – so I will be talking to groups that are seen with alcohol and getting them to use them to see for themselves the dangers they are putting themselves into – I will use an area away from the crossing and get them to do various things like, walking in a straight line, texting on phones)

Network Rail level crossing data July 2017 – Dec/Jan events at 15 per month on average, rising to 47 in August and over 50 in SeptemberGuidance on level crossing use

Most crossings have a sign and lights or bells that alert you if a train is coming. Many will also have gates that close when a train is coming. If this happens wait until the train has passed
When crossing tracks at a railway crossing, you should: Stop and look both ways before crossing, listen for the train coming and for warning bells, if there are lights watch for them to flash
Stand well back from the tracks if a train is going by
Never try to cross the tracks if a train is coming. It can take up to one and a half miles for a train to come to a complete stop
Always make sure there are no other trains coming before crossing

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office -Western route
MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

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