| Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness train hits van on level crossing - 13 Sep 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:58, 15th September 2025 |     |
From the BBC:
The crash happened near Braystones railway station
A crash which saw a train hit a van on a level crossing is being investigated.
It happened near Braystones railway station, between Whitehaven and Ravenglass, on the Cumbrian coast line just before 14:00 BST on Saturday.
Emergency services attended but no injuries were reported.
The train, which runs between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, was not derailed, Network Rail confirmed.
British Transport Police said inquiries into the crash, which disrupted services over the weekend, were ongoing.
The cause of the accident is being investigated and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has been informed.
The RAIB has been approached for comment.
| Re: Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness train hits van on level crossing - 13 Sep 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:11, 26th February 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
Delivery driver who hit Cumbria train spared jail
(Click on the above link to view this 12 seconds BBC video news clip)
No-one was injured in the crash, which happened at a level crossing in September
A delivery driver who crashed into a train at a level crossing has been spared jail.
William Backhouse had previously admitted dangerous driving and endangering the safety of people travelling on a railway.
The 30-year-old was delivering parcels in Braystones, near Egremont, Cumbria, on 13 September when he crossed the railway without following the right protocol. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
CCTV footage shows the front of his van being struck by a train travelling southbound at 49mph (79kph). No-one was injured but the line was closed for several hours.
Backhouse, who lived in Carlisle at the time but later moved to Bury St Edmunds, must comply with a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months and pay £1,500 compensation.
The level crossing crash in Braystones caused delays for hours
A plea hearing in January heard Backhouse had opened the level crossing gates by hand without ringing the signaller to seek permission to cross.
The train was carrying 10 passengers at the time and the driver managed to hit the emergency brakes.
Sentencing was moved to Ipswich Magistrates' Court because Backhouse had moved from Cumbria.
PC Stewart Simpson, of British Transport Police, said there was "never an excuse for ignoring safety protocols" at crossings. "Backhouse's careless actions and wanton disregard for safety put his own life and the lives of everyone on the train at risk," Stewart said. "We will continue to take action against those who try to beat the system or wilfully misuse level crossings."
Network Rail, which manages the railway, said the crash had cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
Clare Waller, the company's route director for the North West, said: "Everyone involved was lucky to escape injury. We will continue to work with our partners to manage level crossings as safely as possible."
(Click on the above link to view this 12 seconds BBC video news clip)
No-one was injured in the crash, which happened at a level crossing in September
A delivery driver who crashed into a train at a level crossing has been spared jail.
William Backhouse had previously admitted dangerous driving and endangering the safety of people travelling on a railway.
The 30-year-old was delivering parcels in Braystones, near Egremont, Cumbria, on 13 September when he crossed the railway without following the right protocol. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
CCTV footage shows the front of his van being struck by a train travelling southbound at 49mph (79kph). No-one was injured but the line was closed for several hours.
Backhouse, who lived in Carlisle at the time but later moved to Bury St Edmunds, must comply with a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months and pay £1,500 compensation.
The level crossing crash in Braystones caused delays for hours
A plea hearing in January heard Backhouse had opened the level crossing gates by hand without ringing the signaller to seek permission to cross.
The train was carrying 10 passengers at the time and the driver managed to hit the emergency brakes.
Sentencing was moved to Ipswich Magistrates' Court because Backhouse had moved from Cumbria.
PC Stewart Simpson, of British Transport Police, said there was "never an excuse for ignoring safety protocols" at crossings. "Backhouse's careless actions and wanton disregard for safety put his own life and the lives of everyone on the train at risk," Stewart said. "We will continue to take action against those who try to beat the system or wilfully misuse level crossings."
Network Rail, which manages the railway, said the crash had cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
Clare Waller, the company's route director for the North West, said: "Everyone involved was lucky to escape injury. We will continue to work with our partners to manage level crossings as safely as possible."
