Muppetry at Thatcham Level Crossing Today, What on earth was going on? Options

[Blake]

Had a **** of a delay at Thatcham level crossing today from about 9.20am and was very late for work. Three trains went and the barriers failed to open...at all! This is the second time in less than a year that this muppetry has happened and the rail company fails to tell drivers what on earth is going on, how long it will take to be fixed or if we need to do a U-turn and divert.

Instead, we are wholly dependent on the goodwill of fellow motorists who alert those further along what became a huge tail back that the barriers are broken.

Shameful performance. Time we had a bridge. It's the only rational solution.

[Biker1]

Had a **** of a delay at Thatcham level crossing today from about 9.20am and was very late for work. Three trains went and the barriers failed to open...at all! This is the second time in less than a year that this muppetry has happened

Were you told the barriers were broken or are you just assuming?
At about this time you have a Plymouth - Padd HST, an empty stock turbo returning to Reading after dropping passengers at Newbury and an all stations to Reading turbo, all in succession.

What do you want them to do? Open the barriers so you get hit by a train?
(If they did that I think it may constitute as "muppetry!)

If they opened the barriers between each train then you have the OTE's on board complaining that they "can't even get the basics right".

You have a crossing at this point of and increasingly busy road and an increasingly busy railway. Someone is bound to be delayed.

the rail company fails to tell drivers what on earth is going on, how long it will take to be fixed or if we need to do a U-turn and divert.

Instead, we are wholly dependent on the goodwill of fellow motorists who alert those further along what became a huge tail back that the barriers are broken.

What you need is the app.!!

Time we had a bridge. It's the only rational solution.

Agreed. (But highly unlikely.)

[Blake]

Were you told the barriers were broken or are you just assuming?
At about this time you have a Plymouth - Padd HST, an empty stock turbo returning to Reading after dropping passengers at Newbury and an all stations to Reading turbo, all in succession.

What do you want them to do? Open the barriers so you get hit by a train?
(If they did that I think it may constitute as "muppetry!)

If they opened the barriers between each train then you have the OTE's on board complaining that they "can't even get the basics right".

You have a crossing at this point of and increasingly busy road and an increasingly busy railway. Someone is bound to be delayed.

What you need is the app.!!


Agreed. (But highly unlikely.)

No Biker1: Unless there is a miracle, I can't see how an app (which is pre-programed) can give up to the minute information, especially when the barrier is broken. I only expect the barrier to be open if there are no trains passing as it mostly does.
The fact that the rail company leaves a colossal traffic jam to build up for miles on each side of the tracks is a classic example of muppetry of the highest order! Surely they could invest in some electronic signs to advise of problems.

This is the second time in less than a year that I have experienced this total shambles. There is no excuse for this in the 21st century.

[Biker1]

No Biker1: Unless there is a miracle, I can't see how an app (which is pre-programed) can give up to the minute information, especially when the barrier is broken.

I was being facetious!

I only expect the barrier to be open if there are no trains passing as it mostly does.

So the problem is?

The fact that the rail company leaves a colossal traffic jam to build up for miles on each side of the tracks is a classic example of muppetry of the highest order! Surely they could invest in some electronic signs to advise of problems.

This is the second time in less than a year that I have experienced this total shambles. There is no excuse for this in the 21st century.

I am not going to keep arguing the point but I'll have one last try............
The railway is busy, the road is busy. How do you suggest that NR "leaves a colossal traffic jam to build up for miles on each side of the tracks"?
Like it or not, trains have priority at level crossings.
They DO NOT purposely leave the barriers down when not necessary.
They CANNOT raise the barriers if a train is signalled through.
Do you suggest they stop 110 / 90 mph trains to let the traffic through?
If so, how do you suggest they do that?