Just to use this as a common thread on cycle-tram collisions, & related issues on level crossings of the off-street sections of tram track.
A recent report from a passenger on a Westbound tram last week that there was a collision on the Balgreen-Saughton section between a tram and a cyclist. There are 3 crossings here, one replaced a signal controlled crossing on the busway, and is where the off-duty bus driver died, and generated the RAIB report now published.
It also highlighted that Edinburgh Trams horn/bell specifications and tested values were not always the same, and the similar trams in Birmingham had an upgrade, which had not been notified to other operators regarding the audibility and tonal qualities of the warning horns and bell 'sounders'
The RAIB report did not seem to have a note of the 2014 collision, despite the cyclist being taken to hospital and the line blocked - I'm looking for some more detail on this if possible. It must surely have required a RIDDOR report to HSE and ORR?
However trying to learn more about the Stenhouse/Balgreen collision has no report for Edinburgh Trams duty log despite information that the tram stopped and the driver & cyclist seemed to exchange details, with the bike visibly damaged according the passenger on the tram.
So this is an initial appeal for any further information.
Other RAIB reading for this might be the fatal crash on the Croydon system at Morden Hall Park, where a Sustrans Route crossing the single track was not re-audited for the new alignment, and a cyclist rode out into the path of a tram, with indications that he was using earpieces and an ipod, thus failing to hear the warning horn, and the noise of a full emergency brake application.
For Morden Hall Park, and for the Saughton fatality, the RAIB highlighted that the changed crossing arrangements had not been reviewed for the new operation, ensuring that the victims had to slow down and look towards approaching trams (and we know what that can lead to in bad design detail)
At Saughton this included
Trams replaced buses
Traffic signals removed
Bus speed over crossing 30 Km/h
Tram Speeds 70 Km/h
And notes required clearer marking of the area over and approaching the crossing.
Coralling in the 'pedestrian' traffic to cross at the defined place - with the 'solution' proposed as knee-height timber rails either side of the path on the crossing approaches.
(141)Edinburgh Trams has told the RAIB that on 27 February 2019 it held a hazard review, in conjunction with the City of Edinburgh Council, of its uncontrolled pedestrian crossings and generated a list of risk mitigation options. On 22 April 2019 it completed the implementation of some of the options at the crossings. This included the use of ground markings and the installation of timber ‘knee rails’ (a low fence) either side of the footpath where it intersects the tramway, in order to improve the demarcation of the crossings to pedestrians. On 3 July 2019, Edinburgh Trams informed the RAIB that both parties had agreed a delivery programme to implement additional control measures to all of its off-street pedestrian/cycle crossings.
Anyone been consulted on this?
Trees which restricted sighting distances have also been removed.
Tram speeds have now been restricted, and drivers have to cross unmanaged 'foot crossings'to 40Km/h (25 mph) (as a temporary speed restriction) whilst line speed of 70Km/h (44 mph) elsewhere
At present no chicanery seems to be proposed.
I think the current cyclist crash was on one of the 2 'new' crossings where the trams go over the main railway lines, one of which is the connection to the old Stenhouse footbridge, and the other (with steps down to Stenhouse Drive) is the main connection for the cycle path to cross the tram tracks and then go over the flyover towards Balgreen Road. The 'Middle' crossing is 'challenging' on my 1-speed, with the uphill gradient sharp turn plus the need to check for trams in both directions on a curved section of track, with a summit cut-off on sightlines to the East, and an imperative to maintain momentum if possible, and not to cross the tarmac & poured 'rubber' infill at a risky angle. Cross referencing to railway level crossing standards there is not really a decent threshold where you can stop and look from a 'place of safety' before pushing down on the pedals to cross. I'd be interested on how other might 'experience' this as a 'crossing'
From Stenhouse flyover
https://live.staticflickr.com/7918/46323885745_ca59971d37_h.jpg
(really close to flyover steps only down to Stenhouse Drive)
https://live.staticflickr.com/7847/32296314287_0638e15329_h.jpg
(the crossing that takes you from cycle route over to path over the flyover - severe turn with gradients ......)
https://live.staticflickr.com/7885/46514788094_95c7d09a8a_h.jpg
(Fatal crash site)
https://live.staticflickr.com/7803/40273478143_cca994a986_h.jpg
(main cycle route approaching Edinburgh Park)
3 others to photograph in landscaped area around Edinburgh Park Central tram stop, unless others wish to contribute.
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