Posted 27th February 2013 | 6 Comments
Signaller praised by Crown Court judge
A VIGILANT Network Rail signaller who spotted that a van had become trapped on a level crossing and lifted the barrier just in time to avoid a crash has been given an award by a High Sheriff and praised by a judge.
Dharmesh Patel was on duty at Peterborough Panel Box in October 2011, monitoring crossings on the East Coast Main Line, when he saw the van on CCTV. It had apparently tried to beat the lights at a level crossing near Sandy but was still on the track after the exit barrier had fallen.
Dharmesh lifted the barrier to allow the van to drive clear, seconds before a train passed.
Judge Richard Foster, sitting in Luton Crown Court, said quick-thinking Dharmesh had undoubtedly saved the van driver's life and might have averted a derailment.
The judge was speaking during a ceremony in court in which Dharmesh was presented with a certificate of commendation and a cheque on behalf of the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Jack Sapsworth.
Judge Foster said: "Mr Patel was watching many, many CCTV screens at the time and because of his diligence in his job, he saw the predicament. Without his actions the driver would have undoubtedly been killed and there is the chance that the train would have derailed causing many casualties.
"There is not enough praise given to people when they do their job to a very high standard."
The van driver involved later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. Last July, Luton Crown Court sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to do 150 hours of community service and banned from driving for a year.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
Kevin B, Sutton Coldfield
How did the vehicle in question get unnoticed such that it was released "seconds" before a train would have hit it? Surely the signaller had pressed "crossing clear" to confirm the crossing was clear before the protecting signal then cleared?
Manoj Lahoti, Ahmedabad
I dont have any idea about how Network Rail functions but i am so happy to read this article that my friend Dharmesh did act in time and managed to do what he must have done.
there may be many types of arguments like he did what was paid for and all but at the end it was quick thinking and self ability to take that quick decision !
Bravo Dharmesh .. !
keep the good work up man !
cheers !
Manoj
Tim, Devon
Why do they use full barriers? Half barriers don't allow this sort of thing to happen.
If you combine half barriers with push down tyre shredders people can't even go around them.
Chris Neville-Smith, Durham, England
Stupid through the motorist and quick-thinking though the rail worker was, surely the more far-reaching question we should be asking is why we've still got so many level crossings on such fast lines. Even if you think anyone who gets killed this way brings it on themselves, this seems like far too much of a danger to expose rail passengers to. It wasn't them jumping the level crossing.
How much would it cost to replace all the remaining level crossings on the line with bridges?
Chris Reynell, Longstock, Hampshire.
A good story showing how a quick reaction saves lives.
Why not have ordinary traffic lights, perhaps with two red lights, on level crossings instead of ones which only work when a train is present?
I have watched motorists stop on the track, look both ways before going on - without the green light for road users it seems as if the level crossing is not working. This could be the reason for some crashes where the car has either stalled or has not moved on in time.
Jim Campbell, Birmingham
I bet the BBC don't give this story any coverage. Stupid motorist and vigilant rail worker; nah - can't report good news about railways.
(You would be wrong. They did.—Editor.)