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Thursday 2 Feb 2017

Network Rail to begin improvement work at Surrey level crossing

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail will begin improvement work to replace equipment at Woodfield Lane level crossing in Ashtead, Surrey this month as part of plans to make the level crossing more reliable.

The renewal of the equipment, which will primarily be carried out by engineers overnight and at some weekends, will see much of the level crossing equipment replaced, including the barriers and pedestals, the equipment which controls the movement of the barriers. The brick building to the north east of the crossing will also be dismantled and replaced with a new equipment building.

Becky Lumlock, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “Ensuring the safety of everyone who uses the railway and our level crossings is of the utmost importance, which is why level crossing barriers come down as a failsafe if there is a fault.

“However, given that Ashtead level crossing is so heavily relied upon, I understand how frustrating it must be when the barriers fail, so I’m pleased to say that we’ll be renewing the level crossing equipment this year as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, to make it more reliable.“

The renewal will lead to some temporary changes for vehicles and pedestrians at the level crossing while work is carried out. Temporary traffic lights will be in place on occasion, and for some short overnight periods the level crossing will close entirely.

During the full closures there will be no vehicular access across the level crossing with the exception of the emergency services. Alternative parking will be available at Ashtead station and pedestrian access will be available across the footbridge in the station, or step-free via the underpass to St. Stevens Avenue. The new level crossing equipment will be fully commissioned in the summer.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Dates for multi-way traffic lights and full road closures are listed below. Further dates for May onwards will be issued nearer the time.

Multi-way traffic lights

• 12^th February from 00:01 to 16:00
• 18^th February 00:01 to 07:30
• 2^nd April from 01:00 to 06:30
• 13^th May from 23:00 to 13:00 on 14^th May

Full road closure

• 18^th March from 23:00 to 07:00 on 19^th March
• 20^th May from 23:00 to 04:00 on 22^nd May