The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released its report into a collision between a train and farm equipment at a user worked level crossing in Kisby, Cambridgeshire.
At around 9am on Thursday 19th August 2021, the 04:10 Hams Hall (Birmingham) to Felixstowe freight train collided with the agriculteral machinery that was being towed over Kisby level crossing by a tractor.
The train collided with the tractor with a speed of 66mph. This caused minor injuries to the train driver, whilst the tractor driver was unharmed.
The locomotive and one wagon derailed and were damaged along with the rail infrastructure.
The accident was found to happen as the tractor driver did not telephone the signaller before crossing the railway. This was because the driver did not get briefed about the requirement to phone ahead before crossing.
The RAIB also found that Network Rail did not effectively manage the safe use of Kisby crossing and this was an underlying factor in the accident.
The RAIB has made two recommendations, one towards network Rail and one towards the Health and Safety Executive. These recommendations look to improvement management of user working crossings and also additional methods of communicating information to acgrictural workers/
A letter has been sent to organisations representing farmers asking them to remind their members of the importance of using crossings safely.
Why does Network Rail always have to carry the can in some way when these type of accidents happen? I believe that all of this type of crossing do have signage regarding the safe use of said crossing. So why don’t the farmers make sure that their employees are made aware of this and trained in their use!? It is NOT always the Railways fault, farmers need to accept their responsibilities regarding crossings on their land too!!
Such crossings should have electrically operated locks on the gates, remotely controlled by signaller, and CCTV. users press a button on the equipment to contact signaller and discuss their use of the crossing. Gates not unlocked until there is a call. While this is not perfect, it should be possible to produce a wind/solar powered rig with 2.5G-4G data (limited CCTV on 2.5G) for around £2k per crossing (part paid by the landowners either side). Less if there is electrical power available.