UK
Train collides with car on north Wales crossing

A motorist

photo : bbc online

was killed when his car was struck by a train on a level crossing at Porthmadog in north Wales.
The accident occurred at about 10:00 at Traeth Mawr Road. The collision involved the 0942 train from Pwllheli to Machynlleth which was carrying 20 passengers. Neither the driver nor any of the passengers were hurt.

There is no barrier at the crossing over the single track line. There are warning lights and a siren at the crossing, but as the crossing carries only minor road over the line there is no requirement gates or barriers. According to a BBC report, a spokesman for Railtrack said this was in accordance with Health and Safety requirements which calculated the need for barriers in accordance with the amount of traffic crossing the line.

BBC Online: Inquiry call into rail crash 23/10/2000