Rail services were disrupted and the Ferry Road level crossing closed for several hours when a person died after being struck by a train coming into Rye on Monday, February 5.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 10am, after reports of a casualty under a train between the level crossing and the pedestrian crossings across the railway by the Gibbet Marsh car park. The train involved was the 9:48am Rye to Ashford International.
Charlie Harkness saw what was happening. “A fire engine racing into the car park was the first sign of the accident and the pedestrian crossings over the railway line were soon closed to the public. Vehicles from Sussex Police, British Transport Police, South East Ambulance and East Sussex Fire and Rescue were based in the car park and on the Winchelsea Road. For pedestrians and motorists it meant a lengthy diversion around town for many hours.”
A spokesman for British Transport Police told Rye News: “Officers were called to the line near Rye railway station just before 10am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics also attended however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
The level crossing opened early in the afternoon, and the first train able to leave Rye was the 2:48pm to Ashford International.
The pedestrian crossings at Gibbet Marsh have been the scene of a number of tragedies over the years, most recently in June 2021 when a 36-year-old man from Northiam died. There are notices on the approach to both crossings from the Samaritans.
Image Credits: James Stewart .
This is so sad another tragedy at the railway crossing across to Gibbets Marsh, how many more tragedies are we going to see,before the two crossings are fenced off by network rail, over the years there has been talk of an underpass under the railway bridge to accomodate pedestrians, and its hightime something was done,to help stop these tragedies that have been happening too many times over the years, at these crossings.
Blocking the pedestrian crossing will not deter suicide attempts I’m afraid. Automatic locks or warning lights linked to the signalling system would help stop accidents.
I disagree. How many attempts do you see at the level crossings? Or how many attempts do you see where a person has to physically climb a fence to do it? An unlocked gate and 5 steps forward is all it currently takes, far too easy for people who are unwell.
Very sad news but blocking it isn’t the answer there are plenty of other openings .
If someone is this determined they will just go further down the line .
Tragically mental health is a big factor !!!!!
So very sad, my thoughts are with the family and services involved.
No doubt an investigation will establish whether this tragedy could have been prevented.
Some years ago network rail applied to close both pedestrian crossings & replace them with a pedestrian bridge over the river by the windmill & and an underpass under the railway line on the river bank adjacent the mill.If I remember correctly this proposal was effectively blocked by the Environment Agency who said the proposal would adversely affect water voles on the river bank.
We were at a presentation on the proposed pedestrian bridge under the railway at the Tillingreen Community Centre about 5 years ago, since then nothing!
My heart goes out to the relatives of the deceased and also to the train driver and first responders who experienced this tragic incident
Automatic Locking gates when the road barriers come down would be a great improvement but sadly these wouldn’t deter anyone intent on crossing the line…
Not sure they’re allowed as there’s a possibility that people could become locked inside the track