Phark, another XPT hits a car.

[mike-s]

phark i used to go across that intersection heaps. was *always* nervous about that exact thing happening

[John H]

I don't get how people don't see or react to the lights and bells (assuming the lights and bells are working, which I guess we don't know yet). Trains weigh hundreds (sometimes thousands) of tons, travel up to and over 100km/h, and can't swerve. So why rely on the train to take evasive action, when the lights and bells are going and it's pretty obvious one's about to come through?

I feel sorry for the kid though, and his poor mum.

[briffa]

I used to work for Staterail in NSW and I can tell you that level crossing accidents happen alot and it isn't due to driver fault as the light don't work if there is rust on the line or they are just old technology, I was a safety coordinator for many years and engineers hav stated that the technology dates back to 1920 and England got rid of that technology because it was so unreliable.
I left the job because I couldn't handle the bandaid work that we were forced to do.
God elpanyone who travels on trains or crossses level crossings
Chees

[chuffed]

I'm a shunter for PNQ and i can tell you that the amount of traffic that trys to race the train to the crossing even after the lights are going is scary, semi's especially.

We had one hit a blenners semi about 4-5 mnths ago and a QR train hit a B double here just last week. 140t loco pulling about 2000t ...... they dont have much give. Trains take alot of traffic particularly trucks off our roads but they deserve a bit more repect than some give them.

[ttc]

mike-s .. I'm from Wang

[bonester]

I used to work for Staterail in NSW and I can tell you that level crossing accidents happen alot and it isn't due to driver fault as the light don't work if there is rust on the line or they are just old technology, I was a safety coordinator for many years and engineers hav stated that the technology dates back to 1920 and England got rid of that technology because it was so unreliable.

Sorry mate, but I disagree with you- if you get hit by a train, it is your fault- you haven't looked for the train, and you haven't reacted to the hazard that is a very heavy vehicle that cannot stop for you. That is why it is up to you to look for a train- many level crossings do not have lights- just signs- how else are you to know if a train is there if you don't look? I know who will win the arguement between a train and a Kawasaki....
In Queensland if you do not check a railway track before crossing it, you will fail your driving test instantly. (Q-ride excepted)
A guy here in Toowoomba died on a railway track about 6 months ago. No lights on the crossing- why didn't he look- and how did he miss the trains freakin bright light on the front? (night time) Guess he didn't look....

[Redback]

I pulled up at the beenleigh road crossing , first in line, as the lights,bells and boomgate started up, on the other side a car stopped then a white falcon station wagon went over the other side of the road and drove through the crossing. The driver was a young mum with at least one child in the car- no one can be in that much of a hurry.
A semi clipped the boomgates a while back at this crossing and about 18 months ago the pricks painted yellow lines through the whole intersection so never mind the trains if it's wet, the paint is deadlier (it's always there!)

This was from last friday
http://www.abc.net.au/wa/stories/s1654341.htm?backyard

[chameleon]

... I know who will win the arguement between a train and a Kawasaki....

you need to be more specific in your posts here bonster !!


This is the Hayabusa BTW

[mohawk miss]

In the small rural NSW town that my family is from (Baradine), the line runs through about 6 level crossings ( all "stop sign" posted) just out of the centre of town. Mostly its wheat trains, and they are fairly regular. There have been more near misses than you would believe, and its because people just dont look. My aunt lost an arm and one of her kids was killed many moons ago when she drove in front of an old style diesel loco complete with cowcatcher in the middle of the day. I mean, hard not to see it, right? No, she told the cops that she just never saw it. Its called "familiarity breeds comtempt"; people are so used to not seeing a train that it doesnt register when there actually is one.

In fact, has almost happened to me when the car driver failed to recognise the train approaching a level crossing that we had not seen a train on in more than 15 years. Lucky it was a crap dirt road and we were not going too fast to stop....

[briffa]

Bonster
I agree that a person needs to take charge of their own life and destiny and yes beleive that its hard to believe they don't see a train. but unless your around them all the time then you don't put much thought into it.

What I was saying is that the equipment used on major and minor roads is outdated and could do with a little more money spent on them to hlp keep crossing .

A
I used to be shunter for 5 years in cookes road in sydney and port kembla - a good way of getting rid of your frustrations sending the old wagons down the different roads (loved that job)
Paul