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Tuesday 22 Mar 2016

Norfolk level crossing is upgraded to improve safety and reliability

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Work to replace a level crossing in Downham Market, Norfolk, completed this week as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Safety at the crossing has been improved as part of the £1.1m project, which includes new equipment that activates the barriers and lights protecting crossing users if a train overshoots the station. This preventative solution provides an extra safety measure to protect pedestrians and vehicles using the crossing.

In addition to the extra safety measures, the barriers have been renewed and new markings have been painted on the road to create a yellow box to warn vehicles not to stop on the crossing. To improve access, the fence line has been pulled back to widen the walkway for wheel chair users and buggies.

Richard Schofield, route managing director for Anglia, said:

“These improvements are an essential part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a safe, reliable and efficient railway. The extra safety measures have been installed to offer additional protection for pedestrians and motorists. I’d like to thank everyone for their patience while we carried out the works to deliver a safer railway for Downham Market.”

The level crossing re-opened on Monday 21 March, following completion of work that has taken place over several weekends since the end of February.