Bridge strikes

[James]

Would some form of cross hatching or cat's eyes on the surface of the road just before a rail bridge assist?

I think something earlier on in the decision making process would be ideal - possibly up to 500m prior to the intersection, would be helpful. Probably not so much at Allwood St Indooroopilly, where there is limited scope to put an adequate warning, but at Logan Road & Annerley Road there is at least a few hundred metres there where you could put a non-destructive "rustle" or similar from a gantry which focuses a driver's minds on the impending danger, and provides adequate time to pull over and reconsider.

Rental truck drivers in particular would often be unaware - they would be driving their regular car routes, not realising they are in a vehicle 2-3x as high.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1174549697488228352

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1174795832672935937

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1178540969269968898

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1178868084133679105

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 2nd October 2019 page 6

Two injured, three trains delayed as Queensland Rail workers assess structural damage

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1179110562736721920

[#Metro]

Is there any merit in raising the bridge height, lowering the roads, or closing the road with bollards (peds. and bikes can still get through).

There is no end to the supply of distracted people.

[ozbob]

Is there any merit in raising the bridge height, lowering the roads, or closing the road with bollards (peds. and bikes can still get through).

There is no end to the supply of distracted people.

Too many, too costly, road network needs the connections.  Our suggestions if implemented will go a long way reducing the incidence to very low levels.  By the way, the bridge at Booval would survive a direct hit by by ex. HMAS Melbourne, such is its construction. 

Queensland Rail are VERY VERY frustrated with the lack of support from above re bridge strikes.  I intend to keep highlighting the issue until the ' do nothing mob ' extract the digits and start governing properly.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times, submitted 2nd October 2019.

====

Bridge strikes, an ongoing scourge ...

Dear Editor,

I note the article ' Two injured, three trains delayed as Queensland Rail workers assess structural damage  ' QT 2nd October, page 6, reporting yet another bridge strike, this one at Booval, causing injury and delays on the Ipswich line Queensland Rail Citytrain network.

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue. The bridge strike at Booval was the third bridge strike on the rail network in two days!

There are far too many bridge strikes in Queensland, they are dangerous, fatalities have occurred in the past due to bridge strikes and there are real risks of serious injury to bystanders in the immediate area of the strikes. Bystanders at risk are occupants of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and others on scooters and the like. Bridge strikes lead to transport network disruption. Trains are stopped until the bridge is deemed safe for rail traffic. Roads are blocked causing traffic chaos.

There is also a chance that a bridge strike could lead to a derailment. To mitigate against the risk of damage to bridges and the rail track, bridge protection beams are being increasing placed on high risk bridges. Protection beams are good in that they protect the bridges but vehicles are still hitting the beams with the commensurate risks to bystanders.
Queensland Rail does take bridge strikes and bridge strike protection very seriously ( https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/bridge-strike-protection ). But there needs to be more support for our rail operator from Government, Police, and the road transport groups to get rid of this scourge.

We suggest action on a number of levels.

1. First bridge (beam) strike offence, 3-6 months automatic licence suspension with fine, and cost recovery. 2nd bridge strike offence off the road for life. This might focus some minds.

2. Education campaigns, bridge protection and warnings in all its guises. Transport companies be responsible for ensuring drivers have designated safe routes as well as the driver acknowledging the height of the vehicle and loads as applicable, and it is properly documented. Particularly important for weekend removal-van hire.

3. In cab warning devices if all else fails - alarm, preferably a loud klaxon sounds in cab if truck/bus approaches a low level bridge, be it rail over road, or road over road, pedestrian or other structure over road. This could be part of navigation systems, could also be a stand alone system.

Bridge strikes can be completely avoided if we step up our actions. Let's do it!

Yours sincerely,

Robert Dow

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[#Metro]

I have seen some trucks with 'Vehicle Height = xx metres" stickers stuck on the inside windscreen or on the sun visor to remind people what the vehicle height is. This is important for rental trucks where the drivers are novice.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/metrotrains/status/1179612081416331264

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrStuartJames/status/1179616737815220224

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Hytram/status/1179609974726479873

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th October 2019

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue

Greetings,

We noted the article ' Two injured, three trains delayed as Queensland Rail workers assess structural damage  ' in the Queensland Times 2nd October, page 6, reporting yet another bridge strike, this one at Booval, causing injury and delays on the Ipswich line Queensland Rail Citytrain network.

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue. The bridge strike at Booval was the third bridge strike on the rail network in two days!

There are far too many bridge strikes in Queensland, they are dangerous, fatalities have occurred in the past due to bridge strikes and there are real risks of serious injury to bystanders in the immediate area of the strikes. Bystanders at risk are occupants of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and others on scooters and the like. Bridge strikes lead to transport network disruption. Trains are stopped until the bridge is deemed safe for rail traffic. Roads are blocked causing traffic chaos.

There is also a chance that a bridge strike could lead to a derailment. To mitigate against the risk of damage to bridges and the rail track, bridge protection beams are being increasing placed on high risk bridges. Protection beams are good in that they protect the bridges but vehicles are still hitting the beams with the commensurate risks to bystanders.
Queensland Rail does take bridge strikes and bridge strike protection very seriously ( https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/bridge-strike-protection ). But there needs to be more support for our rail operator from Government, Police, and the road transport groups to get rid of this scourge.

We suggest action on a number of levels.

1. First bridge (beam) strike offence, 3-6 months automatic licence suspension with fine, and cost recovery. 2nd bridge strike offence off the road for life. This might focus some minds.

2. Education campaigns, bridge protection and warnings in all its guises. Transport companies be responsible for ensuring drivers have designated safe routes as well as the driver acknowledging the height of the vehicle and loads as applicable, and it is properly documented. Particularly important for weekend removal-van hire.

3. In cab warning devices if all else fails - alarm, preferably a loud klaxon sounds in cab if truck/bus approaches a low level bridge, be it rail over road, or road over road, pedestrian or other structure over road. This could be part of navigation systems, could also be a stand alone system.

Bridge strikes can be completely avoided if we step up our actions. Let's do it!

Yours sincerely,

Robert Dow

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Montague Street Bridge crash bus driver Jack Aston wins appeal against convictions


PHOTO: The bridge was 3 metres high, while the bus was 3.8 metres high. (Twitter: Metropolitan Fire Brigade)

Key points:

Granting Jack Aston's appeal, Justice Stephen Kaye said there had been a "substantial miscarriage of justice"

Mr Aston has been found guilty of charges that carry lesser penalties

He will remain in prison as he is assessed for a community corrections order

Six people were seriously injured when Jack Aston drove the bus into the Montague Street Bridge in South Melbourne in February 2016.

The family of a bus driver who was jailed for crashing into a notorious Melbourne bridge is preparing for him to come home, after his convictions were overturned on appeal.

====

In October last year, a jury found him guilty of six charges of negligently causing serious injury, and in December he was jailed for five years and three months, with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.

But in Victoria's Court of Appeal today, Aston's legal team successfully argued the trial judge was not given the option of lesser charges.

In granting the appeal, Justice Stephen Kaye said there had been a "substantial miscarriage of justice" and the prosecution in Mr Aston's trial "failed" to consider alternative verdicts.

Justice Kaye instead found Aston guilty of six counts of the lesser charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury.

Aston's supporters cheered at the conclusion of today's hearing, but he will remain in jail for the time being while he is assessed for a community corrections order.

Aston's wife Wendy said her husband's ten months in prison had been tough for him and the family.

"He's lost 13 kilos — we spend all our time trying to pick him back up again," Mrs Aston said.

"We just want him home. It's going to be a fair climb for him to be back to who he was."

Mrs Aston would not say whether the family would pursue compensation if her husband was freed.

Aston's daughter Meg broke down in tears when asked about how hard it had been to see her father in prison.

"It breaks my heart," she said.

Aston's son Ben said he had a close bond with his father and he was looking forward to working on cars with him again.

"It's been really tough. I want to get out in the shed with him and get it underway," he said.

Earlier, Aston's lawyer Catherine Boston told the court today her client had no knowledge of the bridge "or its notoriety" before embarking on his trip from Ballarat to Melbourne.

Ms Boston told the court Mr Aston had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder since the accident, that the trial had been "traumatic" for him, and he had been "punishing himself about the collision for the past three years".

"He has been doing everything in jail to better himself," Ms Boston said.

Aston had dropped off passengers at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and was taking 14 others to a hotel on St Kilda Road when the crash occurred.

There was a sticker on the driver's instrument panel indicating the height of the bus was 3.8 metres, the County Court previously heard.

The Montague Street Bridge is 3 metres high.

In sentencing Aston, County Court Judge Bill Stuart said that he was "astonished" the driver did not notice the bridge.

Gold Bus founder Donald McKenzie told a plea hearing last year that Aston had been "let down by the company" as it did not warn him of the driving conditions in the area.

But Judge Stuart said employers could not be blamed for the "obvious failings" of their employees.

A few months after the accident, VicRoads installed rubber flaps on an overhead gantry to warn drivers of the bridge's low clearance.

Aston's family, friends and supporters from Ballarat last year accused the courts of "victimising" him and rallied at the Montague Street Bridge to call for his sentence to be reduced.

[ozbob]

3. In cab warning devices if all else fails - alarm, preferably a loud klaxon sounds in cab if truck/bus approaches a low level bridge, be it rail over road, or road over road, pedestrian or other structure over road. This could be part of navigation systems, could also be a stand alone system.

This is why this needed ...

[Cazza]

Watch from 10:50 mins...

[ozbob]

sh%t!  That is serious bystander damage.  Got to extract that ...

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 8th October 2019 page 17

We must work to stop bridge strikes

[ozbob]

Watch from 10:50 mins...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1181628032391340032

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1182376132399652864

[ozbob]

List of low level rail bridges now available at https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Customers/Pages/Low-clearance-rail-bridges.aspx

Gives Suburb, Road, Road clearance (metres), GPS Coordinates

for bridges clearance < 4.6m  and  those with clearances between 4.6m to 5.0m.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MaribyrnongCC/status/1186803912860241922

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/mtag_info/status/1186822880270503941

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/DurhamNC/status/1186693142113853440

[SurfRail]

^ The Can Opener is actually being raised shortly I believe (something like another foot so still low clearance).

[Gazza]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1181628032391340032

Bruh moment.

[ozbob]

Been booked for an interview on ABC Brisbane radio with Steve Austin Drive at around 4.10pm today ..

Minister Bailey will be interviewed too, not sure of the time. 

This follows yet another bridge strike at Rocklea today, and a followup twitter discussion.

[ozbob]

Been booked for an interview on ABC Brisbane radio with Steve Austin Drive at around 4.10pm today ..

Minister Bailey will be interviewed too, not sure of the time. 

This follows yet another bridge strike at Rocklea today, and a followup twitter discussion.

Interview now around 5.30pm.  Minister Bailey was interviewed earlier and it was just played.

Minister highlighted that there 73 bridge strikes last FY 18/19.  Will look at Muriel Avenue in terms of better strategic beam placement.

He acknowledged the disruption to rail and road, but didn't mention at all bystander risks.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1187276333786619904

^

7th October 2019

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue

>>> https://t.co/n9lNvU5mGD#qldpol pic.twitter.com/eXwPdcx7va

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) October 24, 2019

[ozbob]

Interviews with Steve Austin ABC Brisbane radio Drive show 24th October 2019

Topic Bridge strikes, with particular reference to Muriel Avenue Rocklea rail over road bridge (clearance 3.8 metres)

Transport Minister Mark Bailey >> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_mb24oct19.mp3 MP3 9.1 MB

Robert Dow RBoT  >> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_rd24oct19.mp3 MP3 11.2 MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1187386604937072641

^

Thank you Minister @MarkBaileyMP for the positive attitude and committment to reducing the scourge of bridge strikes. May we suggest a roundtable/taskforce of reps from trucking industry, rental truck operators, rail operator, TMR, QPS, to brainstorm ideas. #qldpol pic.twitter.com/HLr5yOoo1Q

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) October 24, 2019

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail 26th October 2019 page 12

Truckies under fire over alarming bridge 'strikes'

[Cazza]

https://twitter.com/MaribyrnongCC/status/1186803912860241922

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TMRQld/status/1188938468346302465

[ozbob]

^ a sign that TMR might be starting to take the issue of bridge strikes are bit more seriously than their past record suggests.

Long over due.  Minister Bailey did say on radio last week that he was going to get things moving.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th October 2019

Bridge strikes - interviews

Good Morning,

Interviews with Steve Austin ABC Brisbane radio Drive show 24th October 2019

Topic Bridge strikes, with particular reference to Muriel Avenue Rocklea rail over road bridge (clearance 3.8 metres).

Transport Minister Mark Bailey >> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_mb24oct19.mp3 MP3 9.1 MB

Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track  >> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_rd24oct19.mp3 MP3 11.2 MB

Minister highlighted that there 73 bridge strikes last FY 18/19.  Will look at Muriel Avenue in terms of better strategic beam placement.

He acknowledged the disruption to rail and road, but didn't mention at all - bystander risks.

We call for a round-table/taskforce of representatives from trucking industry, rental truck operators, rail operator, TMR, QPS, to brainstorm ideas.

Best wishes,

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

7th October 2019

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue

Greetings,

We noted the article ' Two injured, three trains delayed as Queensland Rail workers assess structural damage  ' in the Queensland Times 2nd October, page 6, reporting yet another bridge strike, this one at Booval, causing injury and delays on the Ipswich line Queensland Rail Citytrain network.

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue. The bridge strike at Booval was the third bridge strike on the rail network in two days!

There are far too many bridge strikes in Queensland, they are dangerous, fatalities have occurred in the past due to bridge strikes and there are real risks of serious injury to bystanders in the immediate area of the strikes. Bystanders at risk are occupants of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and others on scooters and the like. Bridge strikes lead to transport network disruption. Trains are stopped until the bridge is deemed safe for rail traffic. Roads are blocked causing traffic chaos.

There is also a chance that a bridge strike could lead to a derailment. To mitigate against the risk of damage to bridges and the rail track, bridge protection beams are being increasing placed on high risk bridges. Protection beams are good in that they protect the bridges but vehicles are still hitting the beams with the commensurate risks to bystanders.
Queensland Rail does take bridge strikes and bridge strike protection very seriously ( https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/bridge-strike-protection ). But there needs to be more support for our rail operator from Government, Police, and the road transport groups to get rid of this scourge.

We suggest action on a number of levels.

1. First bridge (beam) strike offence, 3-6 months automatic licence suspension with fine, and cost recovery. 2nd bridge strike offence off the road for life. This might focus some minds.

2. Education campaigns, bridge protection and warnings in all its guises. Transport companies be responsible for ensuring drivers have designated safe routes as well as the driver acknowledging the height of the vehicle and loads as applicable, and it is properly documented. Particularly important for weekend removal-van hire.

3. In cab warning devices if all else fails - alarm, preferably a loud klaxon sounds in cab if truck/bus approaches a low level bridge, be it rail over road, or road over road, pedestrian or other structure over road. This could be part of navigation systems, could also be a stand alone system.

Bridge strikes can be completely avoided if we step up our actions. Let's do it!

Yours sincerely,

Robert Dow

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org