Man dies after being hit by train on crossing

Jan 22 2008

A MAN has died after being hit by a train on a notorious stretch of track.

The elderly man, who is yet to be identified, has become the second person to die at a pedestrian point on the railway near Hoylake, Wirral, in the past six months.

He was struck by the West Kirby service yesterday at 2.42pm between Hoylake and Manor Road stations at a user-operated crossing at the foot of Melrose Avenue.

These are protected by five- barred gates and equipped with a telephones so pedestrians can check it is safe to cross.

Down the line from Melrose Avenue is a second crossing at Sandringham Avenue, between Manor Road and Meols station, where in July 2007, Hoylake resident Jean Wilson was killed alongside her dog Poppy.

The crossings are used regularly by those wanting to access allotments and nearby fields for walking dogs.

At the Melrose Avenue scene of yesterday’s death, the track begins a gentle swing to the right, which continues all the way to the Sandringham Avenue crossing where Mrs Wilson was struck.

Both deaths took place in broad daylight, but Network Rail insist that there is good visibility on both sides of the Sandringham Avenue site.

The coroner’s inquest into the death of Mrs Wilson is expected this month.

Residents say pedestrians rarely use the phone and prefer to look down the tracks.

After yesterday’s incident the line remained closed for half-an- hour.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “The incident occurred at 2.42pm between Hoylake and Manor Road stations at a user- operated crossing, where an elderly gentleman was hit by the West Kirby service.

“It is currently being investigated by British Transport Police and is being treated as non-suspicious.

“The next step is a coroner's inquest to establish the exact nature of the death.”

British Transport Police confirmed they had attended the scene and were trying to identify the man and locate his next of kin.