1.2k safety issues at local level crossings

Limavady farmer James Craig (70) - whose father Thomas was Mayor of Londonderry in the 1970s - was killed at an unmanned crossing on the Carrowclare Road in August 2007.

The veteran farmer had been cutting barley when the accident occurred. None of 60 passengers on the train from Londonderry to Belfast were hurt in the collision, though the driver was shaken and taken to hospital.

Now the Sentinel can reveal that between 2007 and 2011 there have been an incredible 1,208 safety issues reported at unmanned crossings in the North West between 2007 and 2011.

During that period there have been SIX near misses and one death - that of Mr Craig. It’s emerged that safety issues were reported at dozens of private crossings as well as at Ballykelly airport (20) and the Foyle Bridge (12) over the five years.

One crossing at Donneybrewer - where there were 31 issues reported - was agreed for closure in 2008 but final works to close it off were not completed until 2010.

And a total of nine crossings between Londonderry and Coleraine were closed last spring.

A Translink spokesperson told the Sentinel safety issues include incidences such as gates being left open at private crossings and trespassers on or near the line.

“Between 2007 and 2011 there have been 6 ‘near miss’ reports at crossings,” the spokesperson added. “There has been one fatality on the Derry-Coleraine section between 2007 and 2011, in August 2007.”

Amongst those likely to have reported the issues include signal cabin staff; train drivers; railway staff carrying out a wide variety of duties on track; members of the public and crossing users.

In the wake of Mr Craig’s death in 2007 the Department of Transport’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) recommended that Northern Ireland Rail (NIR) reissue a booklet entitled ‘The Safe Use of User Worked Crossings’ in order to enhance a section on special farm activities but it seems the message still isn’t getting through to some crossing users.

RAIB wanted “a clearer description of the circumstances that should trigger a request from a landowner for additional assistance in managing movements at the crossing; details of who, within NIR, a landowner should contact for assistance in these circumstances; and guidance on how long before the event the request should be made.

“NIR should use the reissuing of the guidance booklet and the accident at crossing XL202 (the Carrowclare crossing) as the basis for reminding users how to cross User Worker Crossings (UWC) safely and how to consult with NIR regarding the provision of additional risk mitigation measures under the defined circumstances.”

Users of crossings are deemed responsible for ensuring that it is safe to cross before they do so with gates provided to segregate railway lines from farm tracks.

These must be maintained closed across roadways and failure to close gates after use is an offence under the Railway Safety Act (Northern Ireland) 2002.