Mayo level crossing regularly misused raiu report

THE findings of an investigation by the Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) into a car striking a train at a level crossing at Knockaphunta, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, on June 8, 2014, has been released this evening.

The probe revealed that as the train travelled through the level crossing, the car drove onto the level crossing and into the side of the train. The car was thrown clear by the impact and into the adjacent drainage ditch next to the level crossing.

The single occupant of the car was cut free from the wreckage by the emergency services and conveyed to Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar. The driver of the car was not seriously injured and was released from hospital after treatment.

This was the third accident at this level crossing where a vehicle has come into contact with a train.

According to the study, the contributory factors associated with accident were that the gates at the level crossing were open when the car approached the level crossing, allowing the car to enter onto the level crossing without stopping.

The report continued: “The level crossing was regularly misused by the local users, whereby the gates are regularly left open.

“The underlying causes associated with this accident is the fact that the many actions Irish Rail have undertaken in response to previous safety recommendations in 2009 and 2011 have not resolved the issue of level crossing users leaving the gates open.

'The addition and purpose of the new stop line on user worked level crossings is not obvious to users of the level crossing and may cause confusion with statutory stop lines on the roads network with a longitudinal marking.”

'The study outlined the crossing has a frequency of approximately 130 vehicles and 20 pedestrians. The presence of the local rugby club and the fact that satellite navigations systems direct users over the level crossing means that there may be a high percentage of unfamiliar users.”