Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.

Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
yesterday evening.

RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
unscheduled overtime there...

Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
about the van drivers.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>
> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
> yesterday evening.
>
> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
> unscheduled overtime there...
>
> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
> about the van drivers.

To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact and the van
doesn’t burst into flames.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>
>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>> yesterday evening.
>>
>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>
>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>> about the van drivers.
>
> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact and the van
> doesn’t burst into flames.

Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>
>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>> yesterday evening.
>>>
>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>
>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>> about the van drivers.
>>
>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact and the van
>> doesn’t burst into flames.
>
>Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?

Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
say when it reopened).
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>
>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>
>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>
>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>
>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact and the van
>>> doesn’t burst into flames.
>>
>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>
> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
> say when it reopened).

Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
barrier.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

In message <t96igp$q8o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:54:49 on Sat, 25 Jun
2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>>
>>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>>
>>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>>
>>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>>
>>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact
>>>>and the van
>>>> doesn’t burst into flames.
>>>
>>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>>
>> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
>> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
>> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
>> say when it reopened).
>
>Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
>details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
>barrier.

Third Drove is the nearest RTT data point, the crossing is at Chettisham
(on the old A10).

Reports that road is still closed (it's fairly busy and also a bus
route, albeit not that many buses). I expect they'll be needing to
replace one or more of the gates, and that may take a while.
--
Roland Perry

I did try to get through there soon after 7pm last night from Ely -->
Littleport (old road = old A10, not the new bypass). But couldn't really
make out what was going on from the back of a short queue. Barriers
down, lots of blue flashing lights, including ambulance, some smoke
rising from just the P'boro side of the crossing. but nothing big that
you could see from a distance.

Just turned round and went via the bypass instead. I think most folk
were doing that, the car queue was relatively short. (Of course, there
were roadworks on the bypass, seemingly for cable-laying actively going
on, so more delays.)

In message <t96lfq$uq1$1@gioia.aioe.org>, at 10:45:30 on Sat, 25 Jun
2022, JGD <news@prodata.co.uk> remarked:
>I did try to get through there soon after 7pm last night from Ely -->
>Littleport (old road = old A10, not the new bypass).

The bypass has a bridge over the railway, of course.

>But couldn't really make out what was going on from the back of a short
>queue. Barriers down, lots of blue flashing lights, including
>ambulance, some smoke rising from just the P'boro side of the crossing.

That suggests it was someone who spun off on the bend, coming from the
Littleport direction. All the "works" for the flashy new automatic full
barrier crossing are on the Peterborough side of the road.

>but nothing big that you could see from a distance.

I may go down and see what's happening, later.

>Just turned round and went via the bypass instead. I think most folk
>were doing that, the car queue was relatively short. (Of course, there
>were roadworks on the bypass, seemingly for cable-laying actively going
>on, so more delays.)

Yes, there loads of closed/alternate flow roads and roadworks around
here at the moment.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <t96igp$q8o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:54:49 on Sat, 25 Jun
> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>>>
>>>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact
>>>>> and the van
>>>>> doesn’t burst into flames.
>>>>
>>>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>>>
>>> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
>>> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
>>> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
>>> say when it reopened).
>>
>> Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
>> details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
>> barrier.
>
> Third Drove is the nearest RTT data point, the crossing is at Chettisham
> (on the old A10).

Thanks, I’d guessed about RTT.

> Reports that road is still closed (it's fairly busy and also a bus
> route, albeit not that many buses). I expect they'll be needing to
> replace one or more of the gates, and that may take a while.

Thanks for that too. I’ll see if my contacts in the area know anything.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

In message <t96pj6$udf$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:55:34 on Sat, 25 Jun
2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <t96igp$q8o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:54:49 on Sat, 25 Jun
>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact
>>>>>>and the van doesn’t burst into flames.
>>>>>
>>>>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>>>>
>>>> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
>>>> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
>>>> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
>>>> say when it reopened).
>>>
>>> Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
>>> details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
>>> barrier.
>>
>> Third Drove is the nearest RTT data point, the crossing is at Chettisham
>> (on the old A10).
>
>Thanks, I’d guessed about RTT.
>
>> Reports that road is still closed (it's fairly busy and also a bus
>> route, albeit not that many buses). I expect they'll be needing to
>> replace one or more of the gates, and that may take a while.
>
>Thanks for that too. I’ll see if my contacts in the area know anything.

I've now done a site visit, and there's not much to see. The gate on the
outside of the bend on the Littleport side is missing, so the car must
have been on the wrong side of the road as well as failing to stop. The
Obstacle Detection lozenge has a dent in the casing and is at a bit of
an angle. It's possible there's also the equipment cabinet for that
missing.

Meanwhile there's been an accident on the A10 bypass in the vicinity of
the bridge over the railway line, so that's causing chaos too.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <t96pj6$udf$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:55:34 on Sat, 25 Jun
> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <t96igp$q8o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:54:49 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>>>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>>>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>>>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>>>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>>>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>>>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>>>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>>>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>>>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact
>>>>>>> and the van doesn’t burst into flames.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>>>>>
>>>>> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
>>>>> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
>>>>> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
>>>>> say when it reopened).
>>>>
>>>> Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
>>>> details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
>>>> barrier.
>>>
>>> Third Drove is the nearest RTT data point, the crossing is at Chettisham
>>> (on the old A10).
>>
>> Thanks, I’d guessed about RTT.
>>
>>> Reports that road is still closed (it's fairly busy and also a bus
>>> route, albeit not that many buses). I expect they'll be needing to
>>> replace one or more of the gates, and that may take a while.
>>
>> Thanks for that too. I’ll see if my contacts in the area know anything.
>
> I've now done a site visit, and there's not much to see. The gate on the
> outside of the bend on the Littleport side is missing, so the car must
> have been on the wrong side of the road as well as failing to stop. The
> Obstacle Detection lozenge has a dent in the casing and is at a bit of
> an angle. It's possible there's also the equipment cabinet for that
> missing.
>
> Meanwhile there's been an accident on the A10 bypass in the vicinity of
> the bridge over the railway line, so that's causing chaos too.

My contact is saying that the man at the Third Drove crossing is sitting in
his cabin as normal - it’s not clear what he does there - and doesn’t seem
to be on strike. No other obvious consequences that far north.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

In message <t970ui$vl2$1@dont-email.me>, at 13:01:06 on Sat, 25 Jun
2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <t96pj6$udf$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:55:34 on Sat, 25 Jun
>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> In message <t96igp$q8o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:54:49 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>>>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>>>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>>>>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>>>>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>>>>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>>>>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>>>>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>>>>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>>>>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>>>>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>>>>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact
>>>>>>>> and the van doesn’t burst into flames.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
>>>>>> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
>>>>>> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
>>>>>> say when it reopened).
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
>>>>> details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
>>>>> barrier.
>>>>
>>>> Third Drove is the nearest RTT data point, the crossing is at Chettisham
>>>> (on the old A10).
>>>
>>> Thanks, I’d guessed about RTT.
>>>
>>>> Reports that road is still closed (it's fairly busy and also a bus
>>>> route, albeit not that many buses). I expect they'll be needing to
>>>> replace one or more of the gates, and that may take a while.
>>>
>>> Thanks for that too. I’ll see if my contacts in the area know anything.
>>
>> I've now done a site visit, and there's not much to see. The gate on the
>> outside of the bend on the Littleport side is missing, so the car must
>> have been on the wrong side of the road as well as failing to stop. The
>> Obstacle Detection lozenge has a dent in the casing and is at a bit of
>> an angle. It's possible there's also the equipment cabinet for that
>> missing.
>>
>> Meanwhile there's been an accident on the A10 bypass in the vicinity of
>> the bridge over the railway line, so that's causing chaos too.
>
>My contact is saying that the man at the Third Drove crossing is sitting in
>his cabin as normal - it’s not clear what he does there - and doesn’t seem
>to be on strike. No other obvious consequences that far north.

The trains freight got running again after the crossing-bash late
yesterday evening. As for what someone is doing in a cabin at a crossing
like that all day, well maybe something which more modern working
methods might eliminate.

<https://goo.gl/maps/6VxmAeABRGBbzj7W7>

ps Latest from eye witness (presumably a driver who had stopped at the
crossing):

"I was there when it happened he lost control of his car round the
bend and crashed. We rang the phone and told them to stop the train
and then we ran on the tracks to get him out, everyone is okay"

So the train would have been far enough away to be able to be stopped.
When it was an AHB, that wouldn't have been an option, so they are
safer, but at quite a cost to motorists stopped for ages day in and day
out (it's not just the three minutes for one train, sometimes there's
another three minutes later in the other direction, and longer for slow
moving freights because the timing is set for the more nimble passenger
trains).

A week ago something had happened nearby, and an approaching train from
Peterborough was halted just a hundred yards away. Drivers hand been
doing u-turns for a while, and when I eventually got home I reckoned the
incident (never found out what) must have lasted about twenty minutes.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <t970ui$vl2$1@dont-email.me>, at 13:01:06 on Sat, 25 Jun
> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <t96pj6$udf$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:55:34 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <t96igp$q8o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:54:49 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>> In message <t96gjg$fus$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:22:08 on Sat, 25 Jun
>>>>>>> 2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
>>>>>>>> Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Yesterday evening, at the only full-barrier crossing (we've discussed
>>>>>>>>>> its obstacle detection system before) car has crashed through the
>>>>>>>>>> barriers and caught on fire. No train involved apparently, but other
>>>>>>>>>> details sketchy. NR probably have some CCTV.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Train service suspended, but there's a strike today and only a handful
>>>>>>>>>> of passenger trains were still due to run along the Peterborough line
>>>>>>>>>> yesterday evening.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> RTT location: Third Drove. Biggest delay I can see 349 late, some
>>>>>>>>>> unscheduled overtime there...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Unlike when a van hits the underpass and Facebook lights up with abuse
>>>>>>>>>> directed at the driver, comments about Specsavers and so on, this time
>>>>>>>>>> it's all "I hope they are OK". Which we do, but no-one ever asks that
>>>>>>>>>> about the van drivers.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> To be fair, at the underpass the van’s cab is generally intact
>>>>>>>>> and the van doesn’t burst into flames.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Actually, do you have a link to a news report of some kind?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Still the same as I posted earlier "details sketchy". No actual news
>>>>>>> reports, just chatter on Facebook about the road being closed, the
>>>>>>> collateral damage visible on RTT, and brief notes at NRES (which fail to
>>>>>>> say when it reopened).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks. Can you clarify the actual location because I’ve forgotten the
>>>>>> details of the earlier discussion - Third Drove crossing is AHB not full
>>>>>> barrier.
>>>>>
>>>>> Third Drove is the nearest RTT data point, the crossing is at Chettisham
>>>>> (on the old A10).
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, I’d guessed about RTT.
>>>>
>>>>> Reports that road is still closed (it's fairly busy and also a bus
>>>>> route, albeit not that many buses). I expect they'll be needing to
>>>>> replace one or more of the gates, and that may take a while.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for that too. I’ll see if my contacts in the area know anything.
>>>
>>> I've now done a site visit, and there's not much to see. The gate on the
>>> outside of the bend on the Littleport side is missing, so the car must
>>> have been on the wrong side of the road as well as failing to stop. The
>>> Obstacle Detection lozenge has a dent in the casing and is at a bit of
>>> an angle. It's possible there's also the equipment cabinet for that
>>> missing.
>>>
>>> Meanwhile there's been an accident on the A10 bypass in the vicinity of
>>> the bridge over the railway line, so that's causing chaos too.
>>
>> My contact is saying that the man at the Third Drove crossing is sitting in
>> his cabin as normal - it’s not clear what he does there - and doesn’t seem
>> to be on strike. No other obvious consequences that far north.
>
> The trains freight got running again after the crossing-bash late
> yesterday evening. As for what someone is doing in a cabin at a crossing
> like that all day, well maybe something which more modern working
> methods might eliminate.
>
> <https://goo.gl/maps/6VxmAeABRGBbzj7W7>

That’s the one. The cabin is presumably the wooden one on the far side.

> ps Latest from eye witness (presumably a driver who had stopped at the
> crossing):
>
> "I was there when it happened he lost control of his car round the
> bend and crashed. We rang the phone and told them to stop the train
> and then we ran on the tracks to get him out, everyone is okay"
>
> So the train would have been far enough away to be able to be stopped.
> When it was an AHB, that wouldn't have been an option, so they are
> safer, but at quite a cost to motorists stopped for ages day in and day
> out (it's not just the three minutes for one train, sometimes there's
> another three minutes later in the other direction, and longer for slow
> moving freights because the timing is set for the more nimble passenger
> trains).
>
> A week ago something had happened nearby, and an approaching train from
> Peterborough was halted just a hundred yards away. Drivers hand been
> doing u-turns for a while, and when I eventually got home I reckoned the
> incident (never found out what) must have lasted about twenty minutes.

Ta,

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

In message <t9bosl$c58b$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:14:13 on Mon, 27 Jun
2022, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:

>>> My contact is saying that the man at the Third Drove crossing is
>>>sitting in his cabin as normal - it’s not clear what he does
>>>there - and doesn’t seem to be on strike. No other obvious
>>>consequences that far north.
>>
>> The trains freight got running again after the crossing-bash late
>> yesterday evening. As for what someone is doing in a cabin at a crossing
>> like that all day, well maybe something which more modern working
>> methods might eliminate.
>>
>> <https://goo.gl/maps/6VxmAeABRGBbzj7W7>
>
>That’s the one. The cabin is presumably the wooden one on the far side.

Based on my other observations in the area, that's probably where a chap
sat all day, popping out from time to time to open/close the wooden
crossing gates. If they are employing someone to sit there doing
nothing, now that it's been an AHB for years, then that really is a
scandal.

ps. Trains resumed running in the early hours today, probably not
because it took that long to do repairs to the track, but the end of
a possession to tidy up the crossing equipment itself. Not sure
if/when the road is due to reopen. Lots of dark red on Google maps,
which could be traffic ignoring any "Road Closed" signs and having
to turn back, especially at this time of day when there wouldn't be
much traffic. TomTom has it as "Road Closed".
--
Roland Perry