On 2nd February, two young men died and another was injured when their car collided with a train at an open level crossing at Delny. A couple of weeks later saw the third anniversary of the death of four track workers at Tebay - for which two sub-contractors have been jailed.

It’s OK, says NR, we’re trying to improve track safety. And we have a leaflet about safe use of ungated crossings. A leaflet?! What kind of pathetic, cheap substitute is that for genuine safety improvements?.

Ungated crossings are death traps. And RRVs are still unsafe. There has been no public inquiry into Tebay. There have been several runaway incidents since then, any yet no additional safety systems have been introduced to prevent them.

When deaths on the track or at level crossings hit the news - eg. Tebay, or when 7 people died at Ufton Nervet in 2004 - NR promises to look into improving safety. But when the TV cameras look away, so does Network Rail and the government.

More on:

• level crossings [1]

• road-rail vehicle safety [2]
• the Tebay tragedy