Media centre

Wednesday 28 Dec 2016

A £7.5m upgrade scheme in Mid Wales improving rail safety will begin in the New Year

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

A £7.5m upgrade scheme in Mid Wales improving rail safety will begin in the New Year. Eight rural level crossings in Talerddig, between Newtown and Machynlleth will close in 2017. 

The scheme is being delivered by Network Rail Wales as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan and in partnership with Welsh Government who have provided £3m of the funding and Powys County Council.

The project will include two kilometres of new highways works and two new road-over-rail bridges at Ystrad Fawr and Rallt. The scheme will improve rail safety and assist local farmers in moving livestock across the railway.

Upgrade work on the highways will commence in January with work on the new bridges due to start in the Spring. This essential scheme is due to be completed by the end of the year.

Christine Booth, Wales operations risk advisor for Network Rail said: “As part of our railway upgrade plan, Network Rail is investing more than £100 million in improving level crossing safety across Britain. Across Wales and the Borders we have over 1000 level crossings and we are always seeking to reduce risk and improve safety. This vital scheme will improve the safety of the railway for local communities.”

Powys County Council, Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor John Brunt said: “I am delighted that this road and rail improvement work will get underway in the New Year and am grateful to Network Rail and the Welsh Government for the investment in our infrastructure.”

 Ends

Notes to Editor:

Level Crossing closures:

Ystrad Fawr       

Ystrad Fawr (Footpath)

Clawdd Coed

Rallt      

Rallt (Footpath )

Tyddyn-y-pwll

Pikins   

Pikins (Footpath)

Network Rail is investing £100m into its programme to improve level crossing safety as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan. Since 2010 it has:

• Employed more than 100 dedicated level crossing managers
• Closed over 990 level crossings
• Replaced footpath crossings with footbridges
• Installed warning lights as an additional safety measure at footpath crossings
• Launched a new schools programme – Rail Life – teaching both primary and secondary school children about how to stay safe when crossing the railway
• Rolled out safety camera enforcement vans in partnership with BTP
• Invested in new technology such as the obstacle detection radar
• Introduced power operated gate openers
• Installed spoken warnings to announce if another train is coming after one train has passed through