Narrow Escape of a Train accident at Farnborough North footpath level crossing

The 07:02 hrs Great Western Railway service from Gatwick Airport to Reading was nearing Farnborough North station at roughly 70 mph at around 08:22 hrs on 19 May 2022.

As the train approached, the driver noticed a big group of people crossing the station’s footpath. The railway’s horn was sounded, and the emergency brake was applied, but the crossing was not clear of pedestrians until roughly five seconds before the train crossed over it. There were no injuries as a result of the incident.

Farnborough North station’s pedestrian crossing is equipped with gates and small stop lights. When trains are coming, these lights become red, and the crossing should not be used while this red aspect is visible.

The crossing’s gates are additionally equipped with magnetic locks that are operated by a level crossing attendant between the hours of 05:30 and 00:30. These locks are engaged when a red aspect is displayed on the micro stop lights, and they are designed to prohibit users from opening a gate that has previously been closed.

The train involved in the incident would ordinarily have stopped at Farnborough North station, but owing to earlier disruption, it was made a non-stopping service. The arrival of the train was not announced on the stations’ passenger information screens.

The goal of our investigation will be to figure out what happened and how it happened. It will also take into account:

• the method of working at this crossing, including the role of the level crossing attendant.
• the level crossing risk assessment process.
• the history of this crossing, including the response to previous incidents and how plans to replace it were realised.
• any underlying management factors.

Any investigation by the railway industry or the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, is unrelated to this one.

At the conclusion of the study, the findings would be made public, along with any recommendations to improve safety.