Safety Has to be Addressed in the Rail Industry

Following the release of horrifying footage of a near miss at a Welsh rail crossing Network Rail and other safety campaigners have called for more attention to be given to the issue of safety at rail crossings across the UK, in particular in the rural sectors where track security is more easy to abuse and ignore.

The CCTV security footage released to the media yesterday was filmed at Llangadog railway station in Wales and highlights the moment when a family car jumps the crossing and drive across the rail track at the very moment a passenger train passes through. The train only misses the motor vehicle by inches as it swerves in front of the train. Whe looking at the footage it is difficult to comprehend how the train actually misses the vehicle at all.

More horrifying is the fact the man driving the motor car also had his wife and young child in the car with him, the consequences of which are difficult to imagine. Fortunately in this instance everyone, including all the passengers on the train at the time of the incident escaped without injury or indeed any idea what had happened.

Network Rail and the rail industry in general are deeply concerned that health and safety and overall public perception to the dangers involved in the rail industry are being abused on such a scale despite years of publicity and education to the dangers involved. Figures revealed show there is now a 5 year high for incidents that have been reported on the UK’s rail crossings with over three thousand incidents reported in the previous twelve months alone. The shocking figures highlight that in 2008 fifteen people were actually killed and twenty vehicles were involved in crashes with trains at UK level crossings. Everyone involved are now reviewing what can be done to improve this alarming situation.

Published by – Arbil Rail, industry leaders in the hire and sales of quality rail equipment and parts for the rail industry