Vlaeberg Level Crossing accident

[Chris Janisch]

Stumbled upon by Helderberg Railway and Semaphore Association members Dylan Knott and Chris Janisch on 5 January- a fatal accident near Lynedoch on the Stellenbosch line.
WE arrived after the bodies had been removed, the crumpled car was picked up by loiwbed whilst repairs were undertaken by Metro staff to the driving unit which had lost its cowcatcher. The train was then cleared to return empty to Eersterivier from whence it had come. It made it past the crossing before a cloud of brakeshoe smoke heralded further problems. The local service was totally disrupted for the afternoon. A tragic scene and seemingly unnecessary, the 4 occupants were DA councillors from Gauteng visiting the wineroute.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

I can not understand how these accidents happen. Firstly, their are double warning lights at each side of the single track. They train can be seen for at least 500metres down each way. If the lights are flashing you stop. Even if lights are not flashing you still look both ways as if you are a pedestrian crossing the road. This line is infamous for these types of accidents as well as the Somerset West line. Two years ago 19 people were killed when their bakkie stalled on the line. The poor people did not have a chance. All this is totally unnecesary if drivers take due care when crossing railway lines. My prayers to the people who lost there lives, as well as the train driver. This type of accident must be horrific for any train driver and must stay with them forever.

[John Ashworth]

Stefan, there's been a bit of discussion on this topic on some of the other threads about South African level crossing accidents. I've also posted quite a few reports of level crossing accidents in the UK, where there are usually barriers as well as flashing lights. The common denominator in most cases (with very few exceptions where there is some specific problem) is that people misjudge the speed of the train and think they can make it across before the train comes.

As part of the footplate crew of a steam engine I've seen it myself time and time again at the tarmac road crossing on the Cullinan branch. There are no flashing lights, but the train is clearly visible, the loco blowing its whistle continuously, and yet car after car (and sometimes motorbikes and even bicycles) seem determined to beat the train. Often cars have already stopped at the crossing and others overtake them, zipping across just in front of the locomotive. It's really scary from the footplate.

[Chris Janisch]

Folk don't learn-as we drove past Dylan mentioned the fact that this is a common disaster spot...and there it was again!

[Steve Appleton]

It would seem that, a while back in time, the Montrose (on the Rayton to Cullinan branch line) crossing's compulsory "stop" signs were replaced by triangular "yeild" signs that do not enforce a stop, let alone any slowing down. Convenient for the motorists maybe, given the infrequency of trains that use this line, but nevertheless in my opinion a bad move which, together with the fact that this crossing has no warning lights or booms, contributes heavily to the temptation for drivers to jump the crossing ahead of an approaching train - a frequent occurence as John has rightly said. Why motorists do not want to stop and watch a beautiful steam train cross in front of them is beyond imagination.
I would like to propose that FOTR campaigns to have "stop" signs retrofitted at this crossing, as is normal at most other SA rail crossings and at all the other crossings on this particular line.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

When learning for ones motor vehicle learner and drivers licence ( unless you purchased it!) the rules are there to see and observe, that at a level crossing, you got to be aware, awake and alert. Dont visit wine farms on a lazy hot sunny day. Whatever, sympathy to the driver and hope the Metro set will be repaired soon. The rest, maybe next time they wont do it again.
Rail over road, Stop the car and check. Sometimes there are even inspection trolleys in the section and then what?
Well documented there HRASA crew on your first outing.

[John Ashworth]

NO MORE CROSSINGS: METRORAIL
Railways Africa
Saturday, 17 January 2009

In the wake of a high-profile fatal collision near Stellenbosch in the first week of January, Metrorail (Western Cape) marketing manager Riana Scott told the press that no further level crossings would be constructed unless these were “totally unavoidable”.

Labour unions representing train drivers say that accidents in which trains hit cars at crossings have a “devastating” effect on train drivers.

General secretary of the United Transport and Allied Workers Union Steve Harris was quoted saying: "As they (the drivers) approach the level-crossing they can see the people in front of them,...they know what's about to happen. " He said it was very hard for them to live with the consequences.


According to Scott, available funds would not allow all existing level-crossings to be adapted.

"But the most effective precautions at existing level crossings remain vigilance, law enforcement, and obeying the law," she pointed out to reporter Bronwynne Jooste.

Consulting engineers interviewed said it could cost more than R20 million to replace one crossing with a bridge.

[Marius Avenant]

I travel that road maybe twice a week nowadays, and used to live about 1 km up on Vlaeberg road from there. In the 20 years I've been in the area, I've seen some weird things there.

I don't believe anybody 's got any excuse. The visibility is very good, and the warnings are ample. The stop signs are almost twice the size of normal stop signs. And even so, as I've posted after the previous incident about 3 weeks prior to this one, I had occasions where I stopped for red flashing lights, and some idiot comes past me at speed!!

And yes, someone mentioned trolleys, I've seen a number of trolleys. It seems the motorists have the idea that the trolley must stop for them as if there is a stop sign towards the rail traffic!

Barriers which close off half the road, will be skipped on the wrong side of the road, and if they cover the total width of the road, there is always the chance of a vehicle getting stuck in between.

It is not the level crossings that must change, it is the attitudes of the motorist.

[Rob Stanier]

It is not the level crossings that must change, it is the attitudes of the motorist.

You have hit the nail right on the head! We have the same problem in my country as well, when it comes to motorist attitude towards level crossing safety!

Last November, we lost two train drivers when a truck driver ignored flashing lights at a level crossing and drove in front of an approaching Tilt Train.

Then on New Years Day, another truck driver ran a level crossing protected by stop signs and into the front of a passenger train. The end result saw two locomotives and six carriages in the dirt and one truck driver dead. It was a miracle that the train crew escaped with only minor physical injuries (see picture below).

98% of all level crossings incidents in my state, are caused by the motorist ignoring level crossing protection. It is for this reason that we now call them INCIDENTS and not ACCIDENTS. Even boom gates will not stop them and on average, one boom gate is destroyed a day as a result of motorists trying to beat the train at a level crossing.

Do the law enforcement agencies in South Africa actively enforce level crossing infringements? They don't in Australia sadly!

Until Governments start getting serious about level crossing safety and the enforcement of laws governing level crossings, these incidents will continues to happen! The Police need to enforce the laws with level crossing, the same as they do with speeding offenses on the roads! The Governments also need to get serious about educating motorists on level crossing safety!

Level crossing are intersections and the road signs and protection need to be obeyed, the same as any other intersection!

The only stress I feel as a train driver are near misses at level crossings! Sadly, I have at least one near miss on each shift I work!

The only thing worse than making an Emergency call over the train control radio, is listening to one. Specially if it involves the loss of life! I always get a shiver down my spine and a sickly feeling in the pit of my stomach each time I hear one!

My heart goes out to the train crew, as they are the ones left with mental scars from these incidents! They are the ones who have to live with these incidents weighing heavily on their minds, for the rest of their lives!

I'm sorry for my rant! It's just a subject that hits very close to home for me!

Cheers
Rob

[John Ashworth]

I lived for a couple of years in the north west of the USA in the '90s and for one month the local train company (probably Burlington Northern in those days, but I'm not sure) had traffic cops riding on the footplate of many of their trains to book motorists who failed to stop at crossings. I'm not sure exactly how they did that - maybe they were in radio contact with colleagues in police cars - but I believe they booked several hundred during the course of that month.