Van driver seconds away from being wiped out by train in level …

A delivery driver narrowly avoided being completely wiped out when his van was hit by a train in Cheshire.[1] The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released an image of the damage caused to the front end of the DPD van after it was driven onto a level crossing near Alsager[2] when a train was approaching. Luckily, the driver was able to stop just before reaching the track, however the van was close enough to the rails for the front to be severely damaged.

The train driver saw the van 'around three-to-four seconds' before reaching Home Farm crossing, according to the RAIB's newly-released report, and applied the brakes and warning horn, reports Stoke-on-Trent Live.[3] However, it was still travelling at a speed of 30mph when it hit the van at around 1pm on February 11. Thankfully, no-one was injured in the crash, but both vehicles sustained damage and there was major disruption to train services.

Officers arrested the van driver on suspicion of dangerous driving and endangering the safety of the railway. He was remained on police bail while enquiries continue as of Monday, March 27, British Transport Police have confirmed.

Home Farm is a 'user-operated' crossing, which usually involve drivers manually opening gates to let themselves through. However some require drivers to call a signal operator to check it is safe before crossing - as is the case at Home Farm.

The report reads: "This is because vehicle drivers cannot see far enough along the railway line to be able to tell whether it is safe to cross. Records show there was no call made to the signaller to ask for permission to cross at Home Farm on this occasion. "RAIB has reviewed the findings of the preliminary examination and will not be conducting a full investigation into this incident.

However we are concerned that this incident is very similar to one which occurred at Frognal Farm level crossing in October 2017 also involving a delivery vehicle. "RAIB has written to the delivery company and asked it to brief its drivers about the correct use of this type of level crossing and to raise this issue at any cross-industry forums which it is a member of. We have sent copies of this letter to Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road, the Department for Transport and the Health and Safety Executive, so that they are aware of the contents.

"RAIB is aware that the Department for Transport is proposing to introduce new signs for user-worked level crossings such as Home Farm in response to previous RAIB recommendations." A DPD spokesperson said: "Our depot teams are fully aware of the issues presented by the wide range of different railway crossings in the UK. Drivers are briefed at all times to follow the specific instructions for each different type of crossing.

As a responsible carrier, we have and will continue to reinforce these important messages with all our drivers."

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References

1. ^ Cheshire. (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
2. ^ Alsager (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
3. ^ reports Stoke-on-Trent Live. (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ Animal welfare charity flooded council with objections before new zoo scrapped (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
5. ^ Sign up for CheshireLive emails direct to your inbox here (data.reachplc.com)