The freight train was approaching the crossing at 75mph when the signaller raised the traffic barriers
A train signaller at a level crossing who ‘forgot’ a 75mph freight train was approaching and raised the barriers caused a ‘near miss’, a report has found. The incident occurred at 8.16am on October 21, 2025, at the manually controlled barrier in Helpston, near Peterborough.
A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found the on-duty train signaller had ‘forgotten’ a freight train was approaching the crossing. They used the ‘raise barriers’ control, which fully raised the barriers and extinguished the road lights while the freight train was still on the crossing.
A waiting motorist started to drive their car towards the crossing after the barriers started to rise, according to the RAIB. The report said: “There is conflicting witness evidence about how far the car moved. The train driver did not report seeing any road vehicles enter the crossing as the train approached and no road vehicles were struck by the passing train.”
The incident happened after two passenger trains passed on the fast line. The signaller looked out of the crossing windows to check both directions of the fast line but failed to check the Stamford line for approaching trains.
As a result, the crossing barriers were not lowered in time for the approaching freight service. Signalling data later showed that the signaller attempted to raise the barriers after the two passenger trains had passed.
The system prevented this after detecting the approaching freight train. The signaller assumed the system had detected a fault, partly due to recent barrier failures, and responded using the sealed release plunger to manually raise the barriers.
Signalling data shows the sealed release was used as the freight train approached the crossing. After looking to their left and noticing the approaching train, the signaller immediately activated the control to lower the barriers.
A local operations manager, who was present, reported the incident and took over the signal box’s operations. The RAIB report said: “Helpston signal box is normally staffed by a single signaller. Witness evidence indicated that, at the time of the incident, it was possible that the signaller was distracted by the presence of the LOM in the signal box.”