Mechanical problem could have caused Ufton Nervet crash

David Montague, a 45-year-old father of two from Woodley, was killed when he was hit by a high speed train while the barriers were down at the notorious Ufton Nervet level crossing on May 22 (pictured).
The incident evoked memories of November 2004, when seven people died and hundreds were injured after a train hit a car parked across the tracks at the crossing.
The driver of the train, Ryan Howe, told Wednesday’s inquest: “Before the crossing there is a signal to tell me whether the next part of the track is safe to proceed. As I approached the signal it was on green and I assumed it was safe for me to continue.”
Mr Howe said he saw a motorcycle approach the track from the A4, while the train was travelling between 70 and 80 miles per hour.
“It appeared he was trying to free his scooter. I was shouting ‘get off your bike, get off your bike.’
“Another second or two the train had hit the scooter,” Mr Howe added.
However, Network Rail’s post incident report ruled out that Mr Montague’s bike could have become stuck in the tracks and the British Transport Police collision investigation unit said, after examining the scooter wreckage, there appeared to be no defects with it.
Network Rail’s report also said Mr Montague had been seen driving over the crossing earlier in the day while the barriers were down.
Mrs Montague’s wife, Susan, told the inquest she could not think of a reason why her husband, a teacher at Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, would attempt suicide.
She said: “I started work at 9.30am. I gave him a kiss goodbye and I went to work. He hadn’t been feeling well so I presumed he would be staying at home.”
A post mortem concluded that Mr Montague had died of multiple injuries consistent with a high speed vehicle collision.
Recording an open verdict, Assistant Deputy Coroner for Berkshire, Anna Burnside said it was unclear whether Mr Montague tried to take his own life.
“I’m aware of certain events in Mr Montague’s life but there is not enough evidence to convince me that Mr Montague took his own life.
“We cannot completely rule out a mechanical problem.”
Meanwhile a petition to install a full width barrier and CCTV camera at the crossing is scheduled to be presented to West Berkshire Council next Thursday, September 27.
Mortimer councillor Geoff Mayes (Lib Dem) will be proposing the motion to a full meeting of the council.
Hungerford resident Simon Hudson began the online petition stating: “In 2004 the Ufton Nervet rail crash disaster killed seven and again this year in May another person died, we must get Network Rail to commit to improving this precarious situation.
“As it stands there is only a half width barrier, this means that some pedestrians and vehicles will try to pass around the barrier endangering both themselves and the train. To solve this problem and ensure that it does not happen again we propose a full width barrier that would stop people going around the barriers is installed.
“If CCTV is installed it would be linked to the signal box so that the operator can check whether the crossing is clear before dropping the barriers.
“This action should make the crossing safer for all rail and road users in the future,” Mr Mayes said.
The Rail Accident Investigation Board is still looking into a near miss last September between a train and a car at the crossing.