UK - Safety calls after crossing death

[John Ashworth]

Safety calls after railway death
Tuesday, 1 April 2008 14:09 UK

The death of an elderly woman hit by a high speed train at a railway crossing in Oxfordshire has prompted calls for a safety upgrade.

The woman, who was thought to be local and in her 80s, was using a path across the tracks at Tackley, near Woodstock, on Tuesday when she was struck.

There are now calls for Network Rail to upgrade the railway crossing.

June Collier, chairwoman of the parish council, said the firm already had planning permission to build a tunnel.

Ms Collier said: "It was going to be a tunnel and a cycle track and there was a big issue about it for quite a long time.

'Full investigation'

"But they got planning permission to do it, against some local opposition.

"It was then going to be done in a big hurry but then it didn't happen. It was going to be done because it was a safety issue."

The rail crossing had passed a safety check only ten months ago.

Network Rail said in a statement: "We will carry out a full investigation into what caused yesterday's tragic accident and we are unable to make a comment regarding the circumstances behind this accident at this stage.

"However, we do carry periodic safety checks of all our level crossings, which are safe if used properly."

The victim has not yet been identified.

BBC Page last updated at 13:09 GMT, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 14:09 UK