Being a Reading boy I was particularly shocked at that latest crash- especially as I use the line from time to time. I guess there is the same risk everywhere as these level crossings are all over Britain.

 

But what do you guys think about the guy comitting suicide? Surely he did not realise that he would cause so much carnage- shame he couldnt have quietly done the deed elsewhere or just stood there instead of having the mota on the line.

 

I know 1000's die on roads each year, so I shouldnt rant too much.

Its a bit selfish, especially taking other's life's with him

Yes particularly poigniant for us as every train crash is as our hgouse is situated only 80ft from the tracks although we are semi-protected by several large trees. I think the design on the Intercity was partly to blame for some of the deaths. It's a very old design now and the frontal design would have casued the engine train to ride over the top of the Mazda and the train to de-rail. Have you ever seen an American train (or any other flat-fronted train for that matter) hit a car parked on the tracks? They just tend to batter the much smaller car out of the way often into the air and the car just desintegrates.

 

Just my 2p's worth.

 

Ivan

Yes particularly poigniant for us as every train crash is as our hgouse is situated only 80ft from the tracks although we are semi-protected by several large trees. I think the design on the Intercity was partly to blame for some of the deaths. It's a very old design now and the frontal design would have casued the engine train to ride over the top of the Mazda and the train to de-rail. Have you ever seen an American train (or any other flat-fronted train for that matter) hit a car parked on the tracks? They just tend to batter the much smaller car out of the way often into the air and the car just desintegrates.

 

Just my 2p's worth.

 

Ivan

You're right there- they need need some feckorf great cow catcher type thing strapped on the front. Surely it wouldnt cost em much to weld something together and get it slapped on all them trains.

But I expect those inter city 125's will stay in service well past their sell by date and eventually take more lives before they get replaced. Cause thats the British way of doing things :(

Thing is, this may sound stupid but I bet if they put something on the front of trains over here to inialate anything it hits there will be outcry from do gooders saying its too dangerous and someone could get hurt by them. :slap:

If the front would slant all the way down to the ground it would be better as the car would have either been speared or deflected over the train.

 

Ivan

IMO, if the guy did commit suicide, then what a coward!!! He must have had a good idea of the result of his actions of placing his car on the line!!!!! Or did he want it to look like an accident so insurances would be paid??????

Selfish f ucking b astard :x: Thats all I'm saying...

Selfish f ucking b astard :x: Thats all I'm saying...

 

Can't agree more, Since the majority of my family live in Newbury, and it was also due to travel via Taunton, near where I live......its frightening to think that any number of friends and family could (and luckily were not) of been on that train.

 

Its shame he did die...he did'nt get to see the results of his actions !

selfish **** is all i can say as legarth says for one my friends and familey could of used that route due to it passing my home town :mad:

 

the prick should of just hung himself

Lets not get carried away here, it has not been proven that he commited suicide yet. If he did, then I agree, he was a spinless b***ard. But he may have had a problem with his car and panicked!! You don't get much time on a level crossing, once the lights flash and the barriers lower. I should know, I've spent 15 years in the rail industry, and 11 of them were spent installing signalling and level crossing systems all over the country.

These half barrier crossings are relativley safe, as long as the public treat them with respect, as you would anything on the road. Once the trian has activated this type of automatic crossing, then NOTHING can stop it from going over the crossing (at normal line speed) You dont get very long before the train is passing over it, and I'm talking seconds, not minutes!!! So if he did have a problem, he could have panicked, not realising how soon the train would be there.

 

Just thought I'd inject some known facts into this disscusion, as the papers will be on the 'Railways Aren't Safe' bandwagon, as usuall, as it is :rolleyes:

some good points above...i used to travel into the smoke (London) every day via train and to be honest it was the crashes which stopped me from working there in the end i got 4 kids to consider...the jitters its sends through the rail drivers and their families must be 100 times worse...most worrying of all are the vandals who put stuff on the line or hang/chuck it from bridges...oh what fun (not)...i cant believe some people can be so reckless but it happens all too often without the media coverage if only because a driver is killed or injured and not any members of the public.... as regards this latest one tragic accident or selfish act? we may never know what went on for sure...that gap in information has to be filled by hungry news groups so they make or talk it up to the point we cant believe a damn thing they write...i hear he is constantly being referred to as a loner on news reports....?!! so what just cos he dont go out or have dinner parties its being inferred he's mentally ill...very easy shot especially when they're dead

Looks like he was a massive drug addict and homo who had loads of casual sex and was on a bit of a downward spiral.

Not that that's any excuse but you can kind of understand why he did it.

Those poor familys of the peeps that have passed away due to that Pr1ck.

Wonder if they'll let me have his weed stash then? :D ;) FFS if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen but don't take a load of innocent people with you. Suicide is the most selfish thing I can think of in the first place, never mind suicide with murder :mad:

have to agree with all of the above, those who commit suicide

(unless they are well unbalanced) are chicked shitted cowards, mostly because of the misery they leave behind, ie their own family, people who have to clean up after them (i don't mean cleaning wise) and in this pillocks case the many many people he has left in despair cos he couldn't hack it

 

i visit christies quite often, and i see kids with more guts in their little fingers than twats like him, if anybody should be feeling sorry for themselves it's the family members of the people he has murdered,

 

they see people like this are crying for help, no they are crying for attention

if you want to commit suicide get yourself a boat go out to the middle of the ocean and hang a brick round your neck, no witnesses, nobody will find you, no aftermath

 

kids are dying every day:( what would they give for those few extra years

the selfish ones have tossed away :(