More on level crossing accident

Time for some self criticism Brian! I like to get my facts right and expect that what others write should also be factually correct. Yesterday I let myself down by a misleading bit of commentary on the systems used on some level crossings. At the crossing near Chapel on the Par to Newquay line where this most recent accident occurred there are in fact no barriers just the flashing lights warning drivers not to cross. I should have remembered this as the lack of barriers has been the subject of much debate in the past. According to the Western Morning News this particular crossing has seen three such accidents in the last 4 years - an unenviable record. And this crossing is not unique because there have been similar mishaps on some of the other crossings on this line.

Obviously a full investigation is being carried out; a possibly significant fact is that the injured driver wasn't local, he came from Merseyside we are told.

Another collision on the Newquay branch

I can recall various instances of car/train collisions on the Par to Newquay railway line in mid Cornwall. The latest of these occurred this morning on a level crossing at Chapel which is close to the Newquay end of the line. Although the car driver was injured and his car severely damaged there were no reports of anyone on the train being hurt.

Off the top of my head I can't recall whether previous accidents occurred at this crossing or maybe they have happened at the various level crossings on this length of track. It is difficult to understand why such level crossing accidents should occur. On our Tamar Valley Line we do have ungated crossings where the train driver is obliged to stop and sound his horn but I think the Newquay branch has barriers and flashing lights - I really ought to know this. So if there was no failure in the system it might be an instance of jumping the lights and weaving round the barriers. If that proves to be the case then the car driver needs to be prosecuted.