Bridge strikes

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd December 2015

Bridge strikes ... continue ...

Greetings,

Yet another bridge strike this morning ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg166018#msg166018 ). Christmas clowns are out and about.  How much longer before there is some real action to get this extremely dangerous and transport network disruptive idiocy under some sort of control?

This what needs to happen, and happen fast in our opinion.

1.  First offence, 3-6 months automatic licence suspension with fine, and cost recovery. 2nd life with cost recovery.  This might focus some minds.

2.  Education campaigns,  bridge protection  and warnings in all its guises, transport company be responsible for ensuring drivers have safe routes as well as the driver acknowledging their height and loads, and documented route selection. The placement of more protective beams will stop strikes on actual bridge structures themselves, but vehicle operators still manage to drive into them with chaos following.  Repetitive bridge strikes might well weaken structures to a point of unpredictable collapse.

3.  In cab warning devices if all else fails -  alarm, preferably a loud klaxon sounds in cab if truck approaches a low level bridge, be it rail over road, or road over road, pedestrian over road.

Ho ho ho!

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 1m

Latest: ' Bridge strikes continue ... '

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11725.msg166020#msg166020 ... #qldpol

@StirlHinchliffe @MarkBaileyMP @TMRQld

[ozbob]

^ Been booked for an interview on 4BC Drive with Chris Adams around 3.20pm or so ..

2014/15  52 bridge strikes

2013/14  56 bridge strikes

Fines presently up to $8,800.

[ozbob]

Idiots everywhere!!

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Twitter

The Age Verified account ‏@theage 10.57am

Another day, another bridge hit: Truck flips on City Road #MelbTraffic #roadsafety http://bit.ly/1PjihRZ 

[ozbob]

 

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Twitter

The Age Photography Verified account ‏@theage_photo  11.19am

Oops. #Coles #truck stuck under city rd bridge

[ozbob]

^ Been booked for an interview on 4BC Drive with Chris Adams around 3.20pm or so ..

2014/15  52 bridge strikes

2013/14  56 bridge strikes

Fines presently up to $8,800.

Thanks Chris and 4BC for the opportunity to raise the issues.

Hopefully a campaign to stop bridge strikes will be implemented.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Truck smashes into bridge and flips on City Road

[ozbob]

Twitter

Felicity Caldwell ‏@fel_caldwell 59s

Truck hits protection beam at notorious rail overpass, where a cyclist was killed in 2013. http://bit.ly/1NjHBTI 



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^ beam does its job.   Still potential risks to bystanders and other road users should vehicle/load topple though.

For more on this bridge and the protection beams > Bridge protection - Dutton Park Annerley Road rail over road bridges

[hU0N]

Still potential risks to bystanders and other road users should vehicle/load topple though.

The beam significantly reduces the risk of toppling also.  The angle of the bridge pushes the truck load towards the footpath in the event of a bridge strike.  The protection beams are set square on to the direction of travel, so in the even of a strike, the load is compressed backwards into itself, which is relatively speaking, safer.

[#Metro]

The beam significantly reduces the risk of toppling also.  The angle of the bridge pushes the truck load towards the footpath in the event of a bridge strike.  The protection beams are set square on to the direction of travel, so in the even of a strike, the load is compressed backwards into itself, which is relatively speaking, safer.

I don't think there is any safe way to have a load fall off.
If it falls off towards a path, it could kill a pedestrian or cyclist. If it falls backwards it could crush the front of a car, crush the driver in the vehicle behind.

[ozbob]

Yes, placement of beams does help for sure hU0N, particularly when bridges are at angles.

However, the point is there is still a risk to by standers and other road users.  We have seen beam strikes result in topples.

I do not want a situation where people think beam strikes are OK.  They are not, and just more signs that further actions are needed as we have outlined many times.

[red dragin]

The problem still exists,  it just doesn't shut down the track as well.

Looks like a rubbish compactor. Those guys are normally pretty good drivers considering the places they have to squeeze those trucks into.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Garbage truck collides with protection beam at notorious Dutton Park rail overpass

[ozbob]

Strike - road on road ...

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Twitter

Philip Calder ‏@philipjcalder 15m15 minutes ago

Delays at Aussie World underpass at #Palmview, excavator knocked off back of truck. @WINNews_SCoast

[ozbob]

Price St Nambour rail bridge protection nears completion.. Back Woombye Rd to follow. NambourWeekly p7

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 5m

The train network has been affected by the rolled truck under Flinders St bridge. Traffic remains rough.

[ozbob]

This is the truck crash closing Spencer and Flinders streets #melbourne @theage https://t.co/rfqph3CCUO

— Liam Mannix (@liammannix) January 31, 2016

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail is continuing the fight against bridge strikes

After almost three months of preparation works, our crews, with the help of a 25 tonne crane, lifted these steel protection beams into place on the Price Street bridge at Nambour. This is part of our bridge strike protection program which helps to prevent over-height vehicles from colliding with rail bridges. The installation at Nambour has been completed and crews will now move to Woombye Road for the next stage of the program.

Not only can these incidents result in costly damage and frustrating delays for road and rail users, but they can also be extremely dangerous.

Pics > https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/1130285273656498

============

Hope to have a look on Thursday.

[ozbob]

Uh oh ...

==============

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail 1m

Due to a report of a bridge strike at Oxford Park, trains are suspended in both directions Ferny Grove-Mitchelton. Expect 30 min delays.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Alan Davies ‏@MelbUrbanist 6m

Just blogged by The Urbanist - Will ever-bigger fines stop trucks from smashing into rail bridges?

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2016/02/03/will-ever-bigger-fines-stop-trucks-smashing-into-rail-bridges/ ...

[red dragin]

MyTranslink displaying a bridge strike at Woombye-Palmwoods Road, trains currently suspended.

[ozbob]

MyTranslink displaying a bridge strike at Woombye-Palmwoods Road, trains currently suspended.

Yes. second strike today...

[ozbob]

Building over road strike ..  no end to it is there?  Lack of action by Government.

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Twitter

News Talk 4BC 1116  ‏@NewsTalk4BC

A truck is wedged under the Mater Hospital overpass near the Raymond Terrace entry. Delays expected.

[red dragin]

Building over road strike ..  no end to it is there?  Lack of action by Government.

Ironically struck by pieces of a building - those are concrete tilt slabs for walls.

[ozbob]

Oh dear.  Hope all survive this strike ...

#BREAKING 3AW has this pic of the South Melbourne bus crash. pic.twitter.com/qbSJGf5qxJ

— The Age (@theage) February 21, 2016

[ozbob]

Shocking scene bus trapped under Montague St Bridge people still trapped inside injured lying nearby @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/jYljlrS1vs

— Michael Felgate (@MFelgate7) February 21, 2016

[ozbob]

Melbourne: Passengers trapped inside bus after it crashed into a bridge. https://t.co/MnH1GA0Bs9 #7Newshttps://t.co/C97MupRBOe

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) February 22, 2016

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Several passengers remain trapped after a bus crashed into a low bridge in Melbourne

[ozbob]

WATCH: The moment the bus slams into Montague Street bridge. Full details in #9NewsAt6https://t.co/p1uwO10O9T

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) February 22, 2016

[ozbob]

Twitter

ABC Radio Melbourne ‏@774melbourne 13 minutes ago

The Montague St bridge has been hit at least 95 times in the last 6-years. - Bryan Sherritt from @VicRoads

======================

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd February 2016

Bridge strikes - action needed!

Greetings,

Providing you are not living under a rock, or concerned with political coups, you no doubt noticed that there was a very serious bridge strike in Melbourne yesterday.

A bus was topped, fortunately only minor injuries this time.


http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/bus-crashes-in-south-melbourne-trapping-commuters-20160221-gmzyko.html

There was also a bridge strike at Glasshouse Mountains on the Sunshine Coast Line yesterday as well, disrupting services ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg169624#msg169624 ).

We have been advocating for years now for some real action to help get this scourge under control.  It will take firm action from here.

This what needs to happen, and happen fast in our opinion.

1.  First offence, 3-6 months automatic licence suspension with fine, and cost recovery. 2nd life with cost recovery.  This might focus some minds.

2.  Education campaigns,  bridge protection  and warnings in all its guises, transport company be responsible for ensuring drivers have safe routes as well as the driver acknowledging their height and loads, and documented safe route selection. The placement of more protective beams will stop strikes on actual bridge structures themselves, but vehicle operators still manage to drive into them with chaos following.  Repetitive bridge strikes might well weaken structures to a point of unpredictable collapse.

3.  In cab warning devices if all else fails -  alarm, preferably a loud klaxon sounds in cab if an oversize vehicle approaches a low level bridge, be it rail over road, or road over road, pedestrian over road.

The bridge that was struck by the bus in Melbourne has been struck at least 95 times (yes 95 times) in the last six years.

Doing nothing from here is not an option.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Bus crashes in South Melbourne, trapping passengers

[ozbob]

Can you believe this?

===================

Twitter

Nine News Melbourne ‏@9NewsMelb 4 minutes ago

A day after a bus slammed into the notorious Montague St bridge, a truck has become stuck under it PIC@3AW693 #9News

[#Metro]

A day after a bus slammed into the notorious Montague St bridge, a truck has become stuck under it PIC@3AW693 #9News

Obviously wasn't watching the news or papers!!

[ozbob]

One of the lowest clearance bridges on the rail network.  Booval, next to the station.  Believe or not it gets whacked every now and then.

Passive protection only.



Photograph R Dow 27th February 2016

[ozbob]

Things not getting better for @VLine @danielbowen this just happened in Warrnambool pic.twitter.com/sZC5yC0R5g

— Paul Hourmouzis (@PaulHourmouzis) March 24, 2016

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 9 seconds ago

We've just received this photo. No prizes for guessing which bridge is featured here...

[ozbob]

^

>> http://howmanydayssincemontaguestreetbridgehasbeenhit.com/

[red dragin]

^

>> http://howmanydayssincemontaguestreetbridgehasbeenhit.com/

Right, so who's starting one for Logan Rd Buranda, and the Goodna bridge?

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 1 minute ago

Oh dear. A caller tells us a bus has hit a certain bridge in South Melbourne... Yes, 'that' bridge.

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