Cycling UK Forum

...three years ago, whilst cycling to work, I had a bad accident on a level crossing. My front wheel went between the concreate plates and I went over the handle bars, hitting my face on the railway track. My injuries were very serious, I literally smashed my face to pieces and had to have a tracheotomy as the swelling blocked my nose and throat and I was unable to breathe.

During my recovery I contacted the CTC legal department, and Russell Jones and Walker pursued my case. I have now recieved compensation for my injuries and expenses.

I would like to thank Alison Kerr at Russell Jones and Walker for her work and my advice would be, to anyone who rides a bike, join the CTC...

I've replied in detail to Chris, but we are at present dealing with a near identical fall, fortunately with less serious outcome.

However in researching the incident we found that the Railways Inspectorate had no record of any potentially dangerous incidents at any of the 4 level crossings on this 1.5 mile stretch of minor road. It seems also than Network Rail also has nothing on their log or reporting system for dangerous occurrences

The fallen couple (on a tandem) were lying in the path of trains travelling at up to 90mph, and helped to their feet by another passing cyclist, who had also fallen off on the same crossing as had his son, and at least one other rider.

No-one called the signaller to stop trains immediately so the line could be cleared without further risk to life (but the phone number displayed at the time was apparently the wrong one anyway).

Photographs show potentially the most dangerous type of level crossing possible - and on a Sustrans NCN too. It uses the concrete in steel cased blocks with wide and deep flangeways. There are vertical steps of around 2" where the panels meet the edge/threshold with the road surfaces, and at least 0.5" between abutting panel units. This is also a skew crossing at an angle of 20 degrees. Three of the four crossings could be possibly be closed if the main road route was diverted to run on one side of the track, and equally one of the crossings has modern low skid rubber panel units, with the smaller and safer flangeways moulded in. So options to reduce risk are available.

There is no adjacent signalbox, and no CCTV.

Last year, near Knaresborough, a cyclist fell on a remote level crossing and lost consciousness - he was brought around by a train running over his leg, severing it - and managed to keep his composure sufficiently to use a mobile phone to call for help and apply a touniquet. The train was stopped at Harrogate as the crew had not noticed running over the man on the track. The report is on the RAIB website.

About 3 years ago I had my first LC challenge - at Bramley where A report of one cyclist falling also brought out a second fall at the same location in the same period. The crossing did have CCTV - but it didn't record - it was only for the signaller to view the crossing real-time. In the research for the later incident I found reference to 2 cyclists' falls at this crossing but not the ones I had learned about.

We have just learned the outcome of the Ladbroke Grove case, where failures in reporting and recognising the significance on minor incidents had left the route wide open for the eventual fatal result. The Knaresborough incident highlights the importance of making sure that falls which leave a cyclist lying in the path of a train are reported. If a motor vehicle gets stuck there is a major reporting process - but if a cyclist falls this does not apparently apply.

If you have had a fall post a simple report here or PM me with a short report and we'll try to get a better picture of things.

The worst level crossing for cyclist falls is apparently in Hull, and at a Rial exhibition in February I was shown the new rubber panel units which by now may be installed. The company also had flangeway inserts but these were only approved for low speed industrial railways. Anyone got recent stats on Hull?

The investigation of accidents on level crossings is, I am pretty sure, the responsibility of the British Transport Police. I only know this from the ferocity with which they protect their jurisdiction (when it suits them.) Since this is a national organisation, they ought to have national statistics for KSI (killed and seriously injured) accidents.

Its nice to know there are dedicated people out there who do CARE, and put in MORE than a days work in investigating these situations.

Thankfully I have not had any problems at level crossings. And I cant believe a train driver wasnt concentrating on where he was going.