Rail firm in Hoylake safety alert

Apr 30 2008 by Matt Hurst, Hoylake and West Kirby News

NETWORK Rail is considering mounting an extra safety campaign following an inquest into the second person killed between West Kirby and Manor Road stations in six months.

Clive Hanlon, 52, of Ferndale Road, was struck by a Merseyrail train as he attempted to cross the user-operated crossing at the bottom of Melrose Avenue, Hoylake on January 21 this year.

His death followed that of 80-year-old Jean Wilson, who died in similar circumstances at the crossing off Sandringham Avenue, Hoylake, in July 2007.

In response, Network Rail’s Keith Lumley told the News: “We are aware of these two fatalities on crossings in Wirral and we’re considering mounting an extra safety campaign along the Wirral line.”

The inquest, held at Wallasey Town Hall on Friday, heard Mr Hanlon bumped into a friend, was “his usual cheery self” and the pair made an arrangement to see each other in the pub that evening.

But just 20 minutes later, Mr Hanlon attempted to cross the tracks and was hit by the 14.36 departure from West Kirby.

A statement from train driver John Kelly was read by Coroner Christopher Johnson.

Mr Kelly wrote: “I left Hoylake station travelling at 30mph and could see the crossing was still clear.

“Then I got to a point 15 to 20 feet from the crossing and saw a man.

“He was shuffling towards the other side of the crossing and didn’t look right or left and also had his head down.

“Because he was so close, I had no time to sound the horn so I applied the brakes and then sounded the horn and attempted to warn him.

“However, he didn’t react to my warning, continued to cross without looking up and the train struck him on the driver’s side.”

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) carried out a preliminary investigation and determined the cause of the accident as “a pedestrian began to cross when there was insufficient time to cross in safety”.

Subsequently, RAIB has told the News it is “gathering information to decide whether to conduct an investigation into the safety of vehicles at user-worked crossings” but is not considering a further probe into those that are pedestrian operated.

The Coroner told the inquest he was satisfied Mr Hanlon was not attempting to commit suicide and recorded a verdict of accidental death.