Nearly 12 years after the Ufton Nervet disaster that claimed the lives of seven people, work has started to replace the notorious level crossing with a bridge.

When the Ufton Lane Bridge is completed in November, it will mark the end of a long campaign to replace the rural crossing.

On November 6 2004, chef Bryan Drysdale parked his car on the crossing between Reading and Newbury, intending to take his own life. A First Great Western High Speed Train hit the car at 100 miles an hour, and the vehicle jammed in points just beyond the crossing.

As the front of the train derailed and slowed down, the rear was still at full speed. The train jackknifed in the middle. The seven people who died included two children and the driver of the train, Stan Martin. Some 71 others were injured (RAIL 761).

Since the 2004 crash, there have been four further fatal incidents at the level crossing. 

  • For more on this story, see RAIL 799 on sale April 27.