Bridge strikes

[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

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1189203352883589122

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1189427977085423616

Clearance 3.9 metres

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MontagueStBridg/status/1191944456905330688

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1192648624234123264

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1193798402401685504

[ozbob]

  Beam strike !

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/1193806833934327808

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1196194287064502272

[ozbob]

 

https://twitter.com/jmwroe/status/1198522197255565312

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1204223264119111680

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MaribyrnongCC/status/1206396686857392129

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/andrew_lund/status/1206805190285746179

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/status/1209753824111390720

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1215710180299558912

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1217971140410232832

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1227123951379218433

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1237506606985662465

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1250438325036396550

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1259719119269531648

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1271234723310735360

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1281630205321179139

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MitchGrayson/status/1291261042790555649

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1292896994579509248

[verbatim9]

#EXCLUSIVE: Ramming into rail bridges, ignoring warning signs.

Authorities are seeing red, now launching a campaign forcing dangerous drivers to think twice. @rachbaxter9 #9News https://t.co/P02wvsxJUQ

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1299264347353612290

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1300205168076578816

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1304238026306985984

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1314442670438150144

[CQRail]

Beam strike on Annerley Road this morning. Truck has lost its load. Skip has caused damage to road surface.

I've no idea what the driver was thinking given the height of the load exceeds 3.7m whilst off the back of the truck.

Credit to poster on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/j9gvng/check_out_that_newly_made_pot_hole_2_pics/

[Stillwater]

Removal van struck Subway Ave, Pomona, today. No apparent damage to bridge, not so the van. Driver and passenger unharmed.

https://www.noosanews.com.au/news/should-have-ducked-truck-smashes-into-bridge/4125465

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1326366908883464192

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1336890518052040704

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1348497947026100227

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th February 2021

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue - action needed!

Greetings,

Yesterday ( February 8 ) there were two more bridge strikes, causing delays on the Queensland Rail Citytrain network.

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue. There has been a recent spike in bridge strikes ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg243595#msg243595 )

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 vehicle operators and 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!

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

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

Bridge strikes are a very serious issue - action needed! 9th February 2021 Greetings, Yesterday ( February 8 ) there...

Posted by RAIL - Back On Track on Monday, 8 February 2021

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1358843358999764998

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1359363341005639682

[ozbob]

Road over road bridge strike ...

Queensland Times --> Highway closed following bridge strikes

A SECTION of the Cunningham Hwy remains closed this afternoon after a truck carrying an excavator struck two bridges.

Police said a large amount of debris was left strewn on the west bound lanes of the highway between the Aberdare Rd overpass at Dinmore and The Redbank Plains Rd overpass at Blackstone.

The incident was reported about 10.20am.

Transport and Main Roads was called in to conduct a clean up and police say checks are being carried out to see if there is any structural damage to the bridges.

A police spokesman said the closures were likely to remain in place for several hours.

[red dragin]

Just witnessed a hire camper van get stopped by the over height warning chain/bells at the underpass beside Morayfield Shopping Centre.

Thankfully they stopped before the bridge (westbound), but there wasn't much of a gap before they did hit it. That over height warning could be better placed further away from the rail bridge in my observation.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/elahieh/status/1377549311722971137

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1380984533684645888

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Oxley Road, Corinda, traffic diverted as authorities work to remove truck $


It could take up to six hours to remove a truck under the railway bridge on Oxley Road. Picture: 9 News/Shannon Marshall-McCormack

A truck is stuck under the Oxley Road railway bridge at Corinda this morning.

Northbound traffic is being directed along Martindale St and Oxford Road southbound traffic is being diverted along Jerrold Street.

Police are urging motorists to avoid the area with major delays expected.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said it may take up to six hours to clear. ...