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news
Video: Dramatic footage shows cyclist in near miss with train at level crossing
British Transport Police have posted a dramatic video to YouTube showing a cyclist narrowly avoiding being run over by a train at a level crossing in West Yorkshire.
The incident happened last summer at the Ducketts level crossing in Pudsey on the Leeds to Bradford line, used by more than 120 trains a day travelling at up to 60mph.
As the cyclist approaches the crossing, a train arrives from the right. Assuming the coast is clear, a man holds the gate open and the cyclist pushes his bike through.
There’s another train coming from the left, and the cyclist pulls back just in time to avoid being hit.
BTP says the crossing is among the most high risk in the area, with one incident per month on average during the past year and a half.
Chief Inspector Lorna McEwan said: “This cyclist was one of the lucky ones.
“Sadly there are many people who have not been as fortunate, and I have had the heart breaking job of telling families that their loved ones has been killed at crossings or on the tracks.
“Despite our constant warnings about using crossings safely and the dangers of the railway, incredibly some people are still willing to put their lives on the line by ignoring crossing instructions, not looking properly or by trying to dash across crossings when trains are approaching,” she added.
Last year, Network Rail launched a safety campaign in partnership with Sustrans warning cyclists that they should dismount at level crossings, not listen to music while making their way across, and be aware that - as in this incident - a second train may also be approaching.
> Network Rail launches level crossing safety campaign aimed at cyclists
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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22 comments
I'd feel more sympathy for the train driver who can't avoid fuckwits like this one. Look both ways before crossing the road, junction, zebra or any pedestrian crossing even if it's in your favour and railway crossings too and if you're not sure wait until you are. Wholly the fault of the fuck nugget with the bike.
I suggest a slight reworking of the headline: "Dramatic footage shows idiot in near miss with train at level crossing".
This is what is meant by the French expression/sign 'UN TRAIN PEUT EN CACHER UN AUTRE'.
I find it hard to understand what's going on in the head of someone who assumes no train is coming simply because one just passed, when there are TWO TRACKS! Glad this person got lucky though.
That guy just missed out on a heavily ironic piece in the paper.
Easy to see how a series of unfortunate coincidents can end in catastrophe.
2 trains at that exact timing.
Unsignalled crossing.
Helpful bystander opening the gate for you.
Train from the left hidden by the train passing from the right.
Decreased peripheral vision because your hood is up.
Sound of approaching train masked by the departing train.
Only the person involved knows what it was that alerted them in time but Jeez that was close.
No helmet and no hi-viz. Also where are his lights?
Surely he should be taking more precautions! You have to wonder what his train of what was..
Sustrans are involved. Given half a chance they would build a "cycle path" which runs between the two tracks lengthwise.
I think they need to build a bridge.
how can yu not hear one of those things coming at you !!!!!
With modern long-welded-rail trains are almost silent. The old 'clacety-clack' you associate with trains is caused by bull-head rail and is now only found in depots and sidings.
Even rail workers who are expecting trains to be coming can't always hear their approach. That is why Safe Systems of Work, Lookouts and/or automatic warning systems have to be used. Workers walking alongside the track to a worksite must keep 20m apart (So they don't distract each other) and look up and down the line every 5 seconds. Please bear in mind that trains can be travelling at speeds up to 125mph.
If you every come across this type of crossing please follow the instructions on the sign and USE THE YELLOW TELEPHONE! Seriously folks, that is what it is there for. If someone had used it in the above incident they would have been told that a second train was coming. Don't forget, after you have crossed and closed the gates use the yellow phone on the other side to say that you are clear.
You may find this link useful
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/
what's with the guy opening the gate for him? looks a bit suspect - or maybe the grim reaper now wears a plaid shirt and baggy shorts!
On the BBC website they have a couple of other views, he opened the gate then walked back to his car.
Doesn't that rather make it the fault of plaid-shirt guy, then, rather than the cyclist? I guess the cyclist was just following the lemming instincts of motorists who go through a gap just because someone flashed them through...
No!
In law you are primarily responsible for your own safety.
...it was a hearse!!! :o
Well that adds confusion who the mystery man is. I would have just said good Samaritan walking the path, until the bit about him appearing from a car.
Knobhead! Just let Darwin's law take its course.........
What century are we in? I thought these unmanned crossings were supposed to have been updated.
West Yorkshire, loads of them, some with cycle routes going straight through them, just got to be aware of other users (the trains) using the same space.
Looks like a pedestrian pushing a bike to me.