Oxfordshire train death sparks calls for urgent safety measures

British Transport Police officers and paramedics were called to the railway in Kidlington just after midday yesterday after a person was found dead on the tracks.

The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

READ MORE: Oxford City Council reshuffle: New cabinet announced

Police presence on Sandy Lane (Image: Ed Halford)

It came just hours after a car was hit by a train on the Sandy Lane level crossing between Yarnton and Kidlington just before 8am.

Two people were taken to hospital for checks.

Police said the incident was unrelated to the later incident.

READ MORE: Oxford business owners slam council for 'traffic disaster'

Sandy Lane was immediately closed off to traffic after the rush hour crash, and Great Western Railways warned passengers of delays of up to 60 minutes between Oxford and Banbury.

Since the incident, a Network Rail spokesman has confirmed the Sandy Lane crossing is set to close, as well as crossings at Yarnton and Tackley as part of the Oxfordshire Connect programme.

Sandy Lane crossing (Image: Ed Halford)

Reacting to the earlier incident on the line, villagers in Sandy Lane said the level crossing was well known for crashes and blamed previous incidents on drivers breaking the speed limit.

Mr Ives, who has lived on the Yarnton side of the Sandy Lane crossing for 40 years, said he was “not shocked” and believed drivers were at fault for the area becoming dangerous.

He said: “This is a terrible road.

“At 7am, you can’t get out of here because people are going so fast and the speed limit is far too high.”

READ MORE: Oxford Union president criticises 'worrying' free speech trend

In November Emily Hickman, 34, from Chipping Norton, was killed after she was hit by a train at the crossing. 

Her inquest took place last month in Oxford where the cause of death was given as massive trauma.

The road was closed off (Image: Ed Halford)

A woman also died after she was hit by a train on the Sandy Lane crossing in December 2021.

A householder whose home overlooks the crossing, and who did not wish to be named, said she was looking forward to the crossing closing.

READ MORE: Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper spotted at Downing Street

She said: “Drivers pretend they are Stirling Moss.

“Cars go very quickly and the road has got worse as time has gone on.”

The householder claimed the road was used as a rat run for some drivers who were on their way to London and said roadworks on major roads hadn’t helped.

Road ahead closed sign on the Kidlington side of Sandy Lane (Image: Ed Halford)

Network Rail said the Sandy Lane crossing needed to be closed as “increasing demand for rail freight services means more train paths are required”.

It adds: “More trains on the line would increase the risk at two level crossings along the route at Sandy Lane and Yarnton Lane.

“Therefore, to reduce level crossing risk, improve safety and reduce instances of misuse, these level crossings need to be closed.

“Closing the crossings would allow us to provide capacity for an additional two freight trains per hour, additional Birmingham to Oxford services, and increased maintenance access and safety improvements.

“Options for closing the two crossings are currently being considered.”

Network Rail staff at the scene (Image: Ed Halford)

It is not yet clear when the closures will take place and Network Rail has been approached for clarification.

John Webb, a Kidlington householder who lives in Newport Close, said “People definitely travel down the road over the speed limit.” 

READ MORE: Didcot school theft: Group of men wanted by police

He called for the speed limit to be lowered, describing the crossing as “quite dangerous”.

A British Transport Police spokesman said enquiries were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of yesterday's incidents.