Car crashes into Virgin Voyager at level crossing in Lanarkshire

[Chrism20]

http://stv.tv/news/west-central/137...irgin-train-at-level-crossing-in-lanarkshire/

A car looks to have made contact with a Voyager earlier this evening in the Carstairs/Carluke area. No injuries thankfully.

A Virgin Voyager train has hit a car at a level crossing in South Lanarkshire.

It is thought the train dragged the vehicle 80 yards during the incident at the Cleghorn level crossing, shortly before 7pm on Saturday.

Services in the area have seen major disruption, with trains through Carluke and Carstairs cancelled or delayed.

Eyewitnesses said the car turned on to the railway by accident, and the occupants were able to get out before it was hit.

There are not thought to be any casualties and the train, which was bound for Glasgow from Preston, did not derail.

Passengers posted on Twitter that the car became stuck underneath the train.

British Transport Police (BTP) said they are are currently working to ensure the safety of those on the train. There are around 60 passengers on board.

The force said in a statement: "Just after 6.46pm we were called to Cleghorn level crossing in Lanark, Scotland following reports that a car was struck by a train.

"Officers from BTP and Police Scotland are on scene and are being supported by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

"Fortunately, all occupants of the vehicle were able to exit before it was struck by train. There are no reported injuries at this stage.

"Our priority is to ensure the safety of everyone on board the train and the vehilces occupants and look to understand how the car came to be on the tracks.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.

 

[DarloRich]

dear dear dear - could have been much worse

 

[GatwickDepress]

Eeek, thank goodness nobody was seriously injured or worse. A lucky escape...

 

[w0033944]

From online photos, it would appear to be an MCB type, but angled and with a bend in the road just after the crossing which might have confused a motorist in the dark.

 

[najaB]

From online photos, it would appear to be an MCB type, but angled and with a bend in the road just after the crossing which might have confused a motorist in the dark.

From previous experience, some members will take a very dim view of your attempt to in any way absolve the driver of complete and total culpability. Expect calls for the immediate and permanent revocation of their driving licence.

 

[Chrism20]

The main thing is no one has been hurt, still a scary experience all the same.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wonder what kind of shape the leading car of the voyager is in?
Trains are not going fkat out in that area but not exactly crawling iether.

Glad nobody was hurt.

 

[w0033944]

From previous experience, some members will take a very dim view of your attempt to in any way absolve the driver of complete and total culpability. Expect calls for the immediate and permanent revocation of their driving licence.

I'm aware of that, and I'm certainly not making excuses for the motorist in question; they are ultimately responsible for their driving standard, and this would appear to be below a reasonable level of competence. I suspect, however, that the highway engineering may increase the risk of careless drivers making this sort of mistake.

 

[QueensCurve]

From online photos, it would appear to be an MCB type, but angled and with a bend in the road just after the crossing which might have confused a motorist in the dark.

Any link or URL?

 

[najaB]

Any link or URL?

I think this is the crossing in question.

 

[QueensCurve]

From previous experience, some members will take a very dim view of your attempt to in any way absolve the driver of complete and total culpability. Expect calls for the immediate and permanent revocation of their driving licence.

There but for the grace...

I have have never done anything like that, and don't believe I ever would.

There remains some human factor why they did. Rather than blame and punish, we should seek to understand and prevent.

Glad indeed nobody was hurt.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think this is the crossing in question.

Yes. Any link to picture of the actual incident?

Apologies, one here:-

 

[najaB]

Yes. Any link to picture of the actual incident?

Just the ones in the article in the OP. Given that it occurred well after sunset it'll be tomorrow before there are any better pics available.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think this is the crossing in question.

The road seems to have very clearly defined white road markings in the area where the crossing occurs.

 

[gsnedders]

The road seems to have very clearly defined white road markings in the area where the crossing occurs.

That photo is from Oct 2008; in eight years it's certainly possibly they've largely been eroded away.

 

[Chrism20]

Looking at the picture posted by QueensCurve at least they had the sense to get out the car, there are many people who would freeze and panic in that situation.

 

[Strathclyder]

Glad to hear that were no injuries/deaths in relation to this incident and thoughts are with everyone involved. Could have been a lot worse.

 

[PermitToTravel]

There remains some human factor why they did. Rather than blame and punish, we should seek to understand and prevent.

Porque no los dos? Make any beneficial changes, but ensure that anyone who can't tell the difference between a road and a railway is never again allowed behind the wheel.

 

[driver_m]

Thoughts with one of my colleagues there. We've had a bad week this week on the West Coast and I hope all concerned are managing it well.

 

[TBirdFrank]

This crossing is a well lit full barrier installation and there can be no excuse for apalling driving - but please - can we stop all this handwringing - its just a fender bender and no-one is hurt - no-one needs counselling, it's just one of those things!

 

[AndrewE]

Would a better title for the thread be "Train hits car left on track at level crossing" or something similar?

Clearly the train ran over an abandoned car which had no business being on the track. I imagine that in due course we shall hear how the driver managed to turn off the road & onto the rails.

 

[Starmill]

Whenever I pass that crossin on the train I'm surprised at it. Surprised that there is a crossing there at all, and more surprised that it's still there given the bend, the interference from trees and the hill.

 

[xc170]

Also, something to take into account, the temperature at night recently, ice could have played a part...

 

[route:oxford]

Also, something to take into account, the temperature at night recently, ice could have played a part...

It's been relatively mild up there. Accuweather is reporting 7C/3C for yesterday.

Level crossings are a product of a bygone age and should be closed & replaced on both the ECML and WCML in Scotland and rUK as soon as possible.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Rather than blame and punish, we should seek to understand and prevent.

They're an idiot. Take away their licence. Understood and prevented.

 

[Bushy]

Rather than blame and punish, we should seek to understand and prevent.

That will, of course, be the aim of the RAIB investigation.

 

[Cletus]

This week has been terrible for Virgin on the west side

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains 24m24 minutes ago
#VTNEW Due to engineering works not being finished on time between #WarringtonBankQuay and #Crewe all lines are blocked.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains 22h22 hours ago
#VTUPDATE Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between #WiganNorthWestern and #WarringtonBankQuay all lines are blocked.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Dec 2
#VTNEW: Due to emergency services dealing with an incident between #Crewe and #Stafford all lines are blocked.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Dec 1
#VTNEW Due to a broken down train between Weaver Jn and Crewe some South-bound lines are blocked. Updates to follow.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Dec 1
#VTUPDATE Due to a landslip between Wigan North Western and Warrington Bank Quay, all lines are blocked.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Nov 30
#VTNEW: Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between #Wolverhampton and #Birmingham New Street some lines are blocked.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Nov 30
#VTNEW Due to a points failure between Watford Junction and London Euston some South-bound lines are blocked. Updates to follow.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Nov 30
#VTNEW Due to a points failure between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International, all lines are blocked. Updates to follow.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Nov 30
#VTNEW: Due to a fault with the signalling system between #Oxenholme #LakeDistrict and #Lancaster all lines are blocked.

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Nov 29
#VTNEW Due to a lorry colliding with a bridge at Macclesfield, all lines are blocked. Services are diverting via Wilmslow & Crewe where poss

Virgin Trains ‏@VirginTrains Nov 29
#VTNEW Due to emergency services dealing with an incident between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction, all lines are blocked

 

[GB]

This crossing is a well lit full barrier installation and there can be no excuse for apalling driving - but please - can we stop all this handwringing - its just a fender bender and no-one is hurt - no-one needs counselling, it's just one of those things!

Sorry, Ive just woken up after a week of nights and can't actually tell if that post is serious.

 

[Bushy]

Would a better title for the thread be "Train hits car left on track at level crossing" or something similar?

The post subject is a quote of the headline of the linked article.

 

[Chrism20]

The post subject is a quote of the headline of the linked article.

Yes I will admit to simply copying the STV headline for the thread. "Train hits car at level crossing" would make more sense.

 

[al78]

They're an idiot. Take away their licence. Understood and prevented.

I can understand that attitude but it is also a reasonable idea to look at the road engineering in the area to see if that was a factor. The objective when designing and building roads should be that mistakes made by road users do not carry the death penalty if at all possible (all humans are capable of making mistakes), this is not the same as saying that people should not be held responsible for their carelessness.