Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

• Alan G Honeyball, Barry

  As a retired driver (on footplate 1961 until 2006 ) who now drives buses, most motorists have never looked in the highway code since passing their driving test,and I can not believe how poor the standard of driving is,so the problem is down to those who ignore red lights.

• James Palma, London

  There is nothing wrong with half barriers or level crossings. They generally work perfectly well. The reality is the user. People regularly ignore the fact the lights are flashing, barriers are lowering or that they are even closed. How is that the railways fault? It is just a sign of modern society that people do not accept responsibility for their own actions and cause delay and suffering to everyone else, with others having to take the blame.

• Simon Nicholson, Leicester

  Another tragic incident indeed and my thoughts are with all involved, but how much can you wrap people in cotton wool. Full barriers causes more delay to motorist. All road uses should know the difference between twin flashing red road lights and a steady single one

• Bill Roberts, Sydney, Nova Scotia

  Another death,,,just add it to the dozens who have died in similar circumstances since the introductions of your cost saving half barrier system of level crossings. Nothing will be done until you have a major derailment involving many fatalities.
  It is strange, but true, how human race react to multiple deaths that occur one or two at a time...we do little or nothing, we only react when high numbers are involved in a single incident.
  I live now in Canada and crossings are no better here, but we do have only a tiny fraction of the trains that operate in the UK and at half the speed.

• George Davidson, Newport

  I wonder what would have happened if one of the proposed Hitachi trains had been involved rather than the HST which it will replace? Being as the HST's have locomotives with heavy engines, they are surely less likely to derail than a new train with multiple smaller engines under the floor of various coaches? Passengers are surely also less at risk in HST's as they are not travelling in the lead (or rear) vehicles.

• Tim, Devon

  Network Rail really should install "Traffic Flow Plates" on the opposite side to the barrier, ensuring people can't drive around the half barriers.

• jack99, Oxford

  By all accounts the Car Driver drove round the lowered barriers with flashing red lights.
  You cannot vouch for this stupid act which sadly cost the car driver his life.

• Tim Price, Bestwood Village

  A tragic incident indeed and my thoughts are with all involved.
  Unfortunately, whatever action is taken, you can never completely take into account, or allow for the actions of people, intentional, reckless or otherwise.
  Tragedies on the railway also occur where overbridges are in place (Great Heck and Nocton)
  On the other hand, summary closure of level crossings merely moves the safety risk elsewhere. My local level crossing on the Robin Hood line has just been summarily and permanently closed after a further fatality, meaning elderly and vulnerable people now have to walk an additional three quarters of a mile along a busy, poorly lit, twisty road in an area with a history of attacks.
  This is the situation we are faced with for many months until the footbridge is approved, financed and installed. Neither Network Rail, nor the local Council are willing to provide a temporary crossing keeper or implement other, reasonable, suggested measures, and so the vulnerable of our village are left to fend for themselves.

• Bob Grundy, Lancing

  High time these crossings on inter-city routes were replace with bridges. I gather the legal framework presents a problem here, doesn't it always? If we want railways free of disruption by suicides (intentional or idiotic), it has to be done. DfT has ultimate responsibility for both road and rail, so come on DfT, act responsibly!