welshdragon wrote:Dave Worley wrote:Nearly all due to user error, actually, but how does one forgive the deaths of two people in the incident on the Welsh Marches when the barriers just didn't come down?
Could it come down to the 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality of some engineers?
But it was broke. And I don't think you should talk about the very hard-working NR staff in that way, tbh.
True, but even if there was no need for it to be broadcast, it's a bit worrying if it wasn't received.
The train approaching was 4Q08 Serco test train - which would have been a class 31. Not excusing the fact it wasn't working, but it'd make sense, since their low usage means they'd rarely receive broadcasts over the NRN, so it would be hard to recognise the NRN was broken. It may also have broken on that trip.
What I think should be done is eliminate all level crossings on the most busy lines. On certain lines it obviously won't be feasible, but I think that maintenance and updating equipment should be properly done on all level crossings, no matter how small or underused a line is.
Most crossings on the busiest lines HAVE been eliminated. There are now NO crossings on the West Coast Main Line's trunk route (the final level crossing on the Rugby-Birmingham-Stafford Line at Tipton has - of this year - been removed, there are some crossings on the Colwich Jn-Manchester route). There are a couple of crossings on the East Coast, but these are full barrier crossings and pose a very low threat.
If we convert all half-barrier crossings to full-barrier crossings, for a fraction of the price of eliminating crossings altogether, we would greatly reduce the number of accidents caused by zig-zagging the barriers. Pedestrians who leap the barriers are just idiots - and no amount of removing the level crossings will stop people like these being injured or killed.
