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.

[Andy Capp]

I seems to me, despite your sneering, the most practical available tool is a gate down app. I was trialist and was unhappy about some of the ways it works, but I miss it. It is great to know if the next half hour are predicted as busy, and if you are caught, you can see roughly how longs you will be sat. This knowledge really does help to reduce the annoyance when held up.

Considering the relative modest expense, it as sad that Network Rail were not interested in help finance the development.

[Biker1]

I seems to me, despite your sneering, the most practical available tool is a gate down app. I was trialist and was unhappy about some of the ways it works, but I miss it. It is great to know if the next half hour are predicted as busy, and if you are caught, you can see roughly how longs you will be sat. This knowledge really does help to reduce the annoyance when held up.

Considering the relative modest expense, it as sad that Network Rail were not interested in help finance the development.

I agree, some sort of on-line system that can reliably tell people when the barriers will be down would be extremely useful.
The reason I "sneer" is that, due to the unpredictability of the railway operation, I fail to see how such a system can possibly reliable predict when the barriers will be down in sufficient time to allow users to plan and use an alternative route, or to change their planned travelling time.
I have, however, throughout wished the scheme "good luck"!

[Andy Capp]

The reason I "sneer" is that, due to the unpredictability of the railway operation, I fail to see how such a system can possibly reliable predict when the barriers will be down in sufficient time to allow users to plan and use an alternative route, or to change their planned travelling time.

OK, so this useful, but...

I agree, some sort of on-line system that can reliably tell people when the barriers will be down would be extremely useful.

...this isn't?

Like I said, one useful feature is to recognise periods of the next hour that have high possibility of being caught and when I there is a low possibility. Another handy feature (for the millionth time) is that when sat there waiting, being able to see roughly how long you will be is half the battle against frustration.

Your apparent sarcasm with your good luck messages is obvious.