Train ploughs through car at level crossing after signaller forgets to close barriers

A report into a crash between a car and passing train on a level crossing at Redcar has revealed a “disrupting” phone call at the heart of the frightening incident

A terrifying rail accident where a car was crashed into by a passenger train at a level crossing took place when a signaller forgot to close barriers after being distracted by a phone call.

The crash took place as a passenger train travelling between Saltburn and Nunthorpe collided with car at the Redcar level crossing. A new report on the investigation has now been published by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). It described how the car driver was injured, but people on the train were unharmed.

The accident took place in May 2024, with the train travelling at 23mph at the time of the collision. The RAIB discovered the crossing had been left open when the signaller authorised the next train to pass, with the car driving across the tracks at the same time.The RAIB stated that there was a “disrupt[ing]” phone call at the time, as well as a technical issue with the signalling panel – the assumed fault – which resulted in the signaller forgetting to close the crossing in time.

The report also stated that the usual visual and procedural cues “were either not used or were not effective”. Furthermore, the approaching train driver had not approached the crossing at the correct speed which would have allowed the train to come to a stop before hitting the car.

The RAIB said: “An underlying factor to the accident was that Network Rail’s processes for managing signaller competence had not effectively addressed the signaller’s previous operational incidents”. They added that they “found that no ergonomic assessment of the layout of controls at Redcar signal box had been carried out, and that this was a possible underlying factor”.

The report went on: “RAIB has made one recommendation to Network Rail. This deals with reviewing the ergonomic risks associated with the operation of the signals and level crossings at Redcar signal box. Three learning points have also been identified, relating to the need to comply with the rules associated with trains being authorised to pass signals at danger. These relate to signallers checking that the route is clear, to train drivers driving at caution at controlled level crossings, and to signallers specifying the locations of controlled level crossings to train drivers.”