Driver's poor eyesight is blamed for level crossing crash that killed three

AN ACCIDENT that left three pensioners dead when their car hit a train at a level crossing was probably caused by the driver's poor eyesight, a crash investigation has concluded.

The official report into the incident in Caithness last September also found Network Rail had failed to act properly following previous collisions at the crossing, which could have led to barriers being installed.

Angus MacKay, 81, his wife Margaret, 81, and Mr MacKay's brother Donald, 66, were killed when their Nissan Almera hit a train at the Halkirk crossing.

There were no injuries among the 22 passengers and crew on the Inverness-Wick train, which was travelling at 47mph.

The crossing is one of 23 in Scotland without barriers, most of which are in the Highlands. The Department for Transport's rail accident investigation branch found

Mr MacKay's eyesight had not been up to driving test standard, despite him being twice advised to get suitable glasses.

It said: "The most likely cause was the car driver did not see and react to the flashing road traffic light signals because his eyesight was sub-standard."

But the report added: "An underlying factor was that Network Rail did not properly understand the risk at the crossing because it had not taken the previous crash record into account."

A car driver was killed at the crossing 23 years ago and there have since been three other vehicle collisions with trains.

The report said that if Network Rail had better understood the risk "more costly risk reduction measures might have been justified, such as upgrading the crossing by fitting barriers".

It made six recommendations, including for Network Rail to consider installing half barriers at the crossing. It called for hoods fitted to red lights to be redesigned to shield lights more effectively from the sun.

Aslef, the main train drivers' union, which introduced a 20mph speed limit at such crossings since the crash, said the report was a damning indictment of Network Rail. The union renewed its call for crossings to be replaced with bridges.

General secretary Keith Norman said: "I am astonished at the report finding Network Rail did not properly understand the risk at Halkirk crossing - and had not taken the previous accident record into account.

"This amounts to irresponsibility verging on the criminal, and ignorance bordering on the insane."It baffles me that anyone associated with the industry can fail to recognise the risks involved at level crossings, where one person a month has died for decades."

Network Rail said improvements had already been made at the crossing.

A spokesman said: "We will pay close attention to the conclusions of this report and have already implemented a range of measures at Halkirk following our own investigation.

"Safety is our top priority and we work continually with our industry partners and local authorities to seek to improve safety on the railway and at level crossings.

"The Halkirk crossing was working properly at the time of the incident, and level crossings remain safe to use, if used correctly."

The Office of Rail Regulation said it was inspecting all open crossings this year.