Posted 24th October 2012 | 4 Comments
600th level crossing is closed after fatal collision
WEST LODGE user-worked level crossing between Newcastle and Carlisle line has become the 600th to be closed by Network Rail since 2009.
A 17-year old boy died on the crossing in January 2008 when he was struck by a freight train. The gates were then upgraded and more signs installed while Network Rail continued to seek its closure in discussions with the landowners.
NR route managing director Phil Verster said: “We have sought the removal of West Lodge level crossing for many years, so it is even more pleasing that it has become a significant milestone in our national programme of closures.
“Level crossings are an inherited part of the infrastructure which we would never put in place today and we are constantly seeking ways to reduce risks at them. Working with local authorities and landowners across the country, we are investing £130 million to divert rights of way or providing alternative means to crossing the railway. Since 2009, 147 level crossings have been closed on the London North East route and we are working to close more where appropriate.”
In a separate but related development, a report which recommends the reopening of the route between Stratford-on-Avon and Honeybourne in the North Cotswolds has conceded that a former level crossing on the route must be replaced by a 'dive under' instead.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
jak jaye, LEAMINGTON SPA
Its not the crossings that are at fault,its the morons who use them(heads down,txting like crazy,or talking for england on their cellphones) we are too much of a nannie state
Garth Ponsonby, Chippenham
That's simply not true. I was dealing with level crossings for many years under BR, and the great majority of such deaths were genuine. Sometimes the railway was at fault, other times the user.
There were known locations where suicides were involved, not least in the vicinity of locations dealing with mentally disturbed people. In the majority of even these cases, they were at footpath not vehicular crossings.
Lee, Manchester
I agree with Tony Pearce, if people can cross busy roads with 30 cars per minute, they should be able to cross a railway with one train per hour. Any death at a level crossing is unfortunate, however it is down to all concerned, the train driver, signaller, pedestrian and motorists, etc. to take responsibility for their actions and not make assumptions about where trains and users are in relation to one another. It is not purely Network Rails responsibility to do the thinking of all who use such crossings, even though NR are supposed to set, maintain and monitor sighting distances for example.
Tony Pearce, Reading
I am amazed that people can cross busy roads with 30 cars a minute safely but cannot cross a rail track with one train an hour. It is not nice to say but most of the deaths on these types of crossings are probably suicides although it is not offical policy to state this to stop the hurt to relatives feelings. However if you replace crossings with bridges you still get jumpers and people who like to throw things in the path of trains. Put an under-bridge in place and sooner or later some idiot will drive a high sided van or lorry into it. Barrier crossings have their own variety of idiot who will try to beat the gates or jump over the barriers. I'm not sure there is any answer to this problem.