Re: Train crash near Reading
 

it seem it was a car on the track, not sure why. It doesnt seem to be any problem with the actual train or the tracks.

God dam car person, out of intrest what do you have to do if you car breaks down on a train track?

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

get yourself & your passengers out of the car & use the phone provided at the crossing :)

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

:notopic: This may sound thick, but I don't live near a level crossing, but why can't you just push it off? I know, if you can see a train coming, you won't have time, but using the phone will be too late as well. :confused:

Condolences to the families...

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

Is the correct response according to the highway code. However, if you have an intercity 125 coming at you at 2+ miles per minute, there is not a lot of get out time.

In order for the signalman to react to your frantic call and stop the train short of the incident, he would need around 10 minutes notice, or 22 miles distance from an approaching train.

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

I heard about some guy who had a flat tyre and changed it on a railway crossing. ****.

I also think that pushing the car of the tracks may be better, but anyway how often does a car just break down suddenly? Isn't there a few mintues before the car stops

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

Mal, theres one in Clayton, might be worth a detour one day and go across it, very scary...........

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

I don't drive or live anywhere near Clayton :) to know what the train traffic would be like. I would have thought that you could move a car easy enough off the track, the only problem would be if you were unlucky to time it a few minutes before the next train.

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

Well thats the whole point - when the barriers come down, you have nowhere to push the car to (or at least you have to diagonally negotiate a half-barrier crossing) assuming there are enough helpers to attemp it. The barriers come down in response to the approach of a train - in the case of a 125 its coming at you fast, and requires 2-3 miles to come to rest after (if) it has been alerted.

My question would be:
Even in rural areas, why are high speed lines allowed to be broached unmonitored?

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

maybe its time to stop the conspiracy theories and hope that as many ppl as possible come out of this tradgedy as well as possible

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

It would have to be a very odd car breakdown that totally imobilised a vehicle. OK, a car may move forward and stall, and can't be restarted. Possible at a crossing or similar place where a driver has to pull away after being stopped. However, the majority of vehilces, if placed in first gear can be moved forward by then turning over the starter motor.

Someone above has posted the driver is suicidal, and thus selfish. That is exactly waht a suicidal person is, they never have any thought other than for themselves. Those who have to deal with the consequences of their actions, family, friends, are irrelevant to anyone in that state of mind.

The exact cause of this "accident" (in quotes because these things often have an identifiable and thus potentially forseable and so preventable cause), at this time is speculation. On that basis it is unfair to band about claims of car drivers being at fault at this time.

My sympathies to all victims.

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

It was half barriers so if they were on the correct side of the road, there'd be nothing blocking their exit from the crossing.
The cause will come out eventually, and as MGP said, we can't really start blaming the driver without all the information.

Sympathies go out to all involved

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

You are absolutely right - I have failed to state my sympathies which should have been my first point in involving myself in the thread. Its a terrible disaster, and to be honest I am sickened when I read of these things.

I was not apportioning blame, the point really is that there should not be unmonitored crossings of ultra high speed rail lines - in the event of an inadvertant stall, breakdown or wilful blockage, there is precious little time or rescource to prevent a catastrophic collision.

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

very true :tu: , hopefully some good will come of this in respect to unmanned crossings

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

Thats one big tragedy.
I hope those injured are OK.
Best of luck to them.

Re: Train crash near Reading
 

According to the newspaper this morning, there were four deaths - all people in the car.