At 8.50am on 25 June, emergency services rushed to a level crossing in Hoghton, Lancashire, after a train collided with a car. A woman died at the scene, and an eight-year-old girl was airlifted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries. No passengers on the train required medical treatment. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) sent inspectors to the site to begin a preliminary examination.
Level crossings are places where a road or footpath crosses a railway line. In the UK, there are around 6,000 level crossings, managed by Network Rail. They come in several types: automatic barriers (with warning lights and barriers that lower automatically), manually-controlled gates (opened and closed by a signaller), open crossings (no barriers, just warning signs), and user-worked crossings (where the user opens and closes gates themselves). Safety measures include red flashing lights, audible warnings, and barriers, but the main responsibility rests on road users to obey the signals.
“An explainer on UK level crossing safety following a fatal train-car collision in Lancashire.”
The fatality in Hoghton is a tragic reminder of the dangers at level crossings. Despite safety improvements, incidents still occur. The RAIB will investigate whether the barriers were working correctly, whether the driver made an error, or if other factors like weather or visibility played a role. The train involved was a Northern service from Colne to Preston, running at 07:51. British Transport Police are working with the RAIB to establish the full circumstances.
For UK readers, level crossing safety matters directly. Every year in Britain, around 10–15 people are killed at level crossings, according to historical data (though exact annual figures vary). The consequences affect not just those involved but whole communities, with lines closed for hours causing disruption to rail passengers—as happened here, with Northern advising customers not to travel between Preston and Blackburn. The horrific nature of such crashes—a train colliding with a car—inevitably seats fear into public consciousness.
Q: What should I do if I get stuck on a level crossing? If your vehicle stalls or is stuck on a crossing, get everyone out immediately, move away, and use the emergency telephone at the crossing to alert the signaller. Do not attempt to lift the barriers—they are designed to break away if a train hits them.
Q: How common are level crossing accidents in the UK? Level crossing fatalities are rare but serious. On average, there are around 10–15 deaths per year at level crossings in the UK, according to past rail safety reports. The RAIB investigates every serious incident to improve safety.
Q: Who is responsible for level crossing safety? Network Rail owns and maintains the infrastructure, including barriers and warning systems. However, road users have a legal duty to obey signals and never drive around lowered barriers. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) regulates safety standards.
What happens next? The RAIB will complete its preliminary evidence gathering and decide within days whether to launch a full investigation. That process could take months, leading to a report with safety recommendations. Meanwhile, the train line between Preston and Blackburn will remain closed until the site is cleared and inspected. The family of the woman who died and the injured girl are being supported by specially trained officers.