Parking mad! Driver blocks barrier at railway station
A driver put lives at risk – after deciding to park on a level crossing. The car was left at the level crossing next to Caersws station in Powys.
It was so close to the tracks that it prevented the safety barrier from dropping down properly.
The signaller had to hold an incoming train until the driver returned.
Dylan Bowen, of Network Rail, said: "The signaller could not give the train the green light to proceed over the crossing because there was a safety risk to passengers or crossing users.
"Shortly after this the signaller saw a person hurrying back to their vehicle from the station. We would like to remind motorists that misusing level crossings can put lives at risk as well as causing delays to train services and other people."
Mr Bowen said the signaller and CCTV cameras picked up the registration details of the car and these have been passed to British Transport Police.
The picture was posted on the Facebook page The Cambrian Railway Lines with a warning from the page moderator.
They said: "Please look twice before leaving your car unattended near a crossing/station/railway. Due to this car parking right next to the barrier, the barrier couldn't come down, meaning the barriers couldn't close the crossing properly. This meant pedestrians might still be tempted to cross in front of a train.
"Thankfully it wasn't a 'down' train, meaning it had to stop anyway at the station just to the right of the barrier. Had this been a down train it would have caused an alarm and caused the train to stop. That would mean delays for passengers simply because someone didn't check their parking."
Local residents quick to criticise the driver who abandoned their car there.
Karen Hughes said: "That has to be one of the stupidest parking photos I've ever seen - a few feet from a level crossing right underneath the barrier - death wish obviously."
Stella Gratrix said: "Same thing happened a few weeks ago, train stopped up the line passengers waiting to get on the train in the rain on platform!!!"
And Karl Hesden said: "Parking is terrible on that road. Network Rail need to have a good look at introducing more parking facilities for passengers but to be fair that parking by the gate is stupid."
Others branded the driver "idiotic", "selfish", "stupid" and "brainless".
