Media centre

Monday 18 Mar 2013

Barriers installed at Shiplake level crossing

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Half-barriers have been installed at Shiplake level crossing as part of Network Rail's commitment to improve safety at level crossings.

The new technology, which has been successfully trialled at three sites, two in Scotland and one in Cumbria, has allowed Network Rail to install half-barriers without making major changes at the crossing.

Traditionally, when installing barriers at a level crossing, we would have to rebuild the whole crossing and replace all crossing and signalling equipment. This new technology enables the barriers to be integrated with the current crossing system enabling the upgrade to be carried out a lot quicker.

Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail’s Western route, said: “Shiplake is one of the crossings in the Thames Valley area that’s particularly prone to misuse and the barriers will act as an extra deterrent. We have developed and successfully tested an affordable, innovative system that will improve the safety of open level crossings. We are committed to improve safety on railways and across the region we are upgrading level crossings or seeking to close them when possible.”

The new technology is set to be rolled out to other open level crossings in the Western route, which runs from London Paddington to Oxford, the Cotswolds, Swindon, Bristol and the West Country, although the programme of works is yet to be finalised.

Network Rail has a £130m investment programme to improve level crossing safety. This includes:

-Replacing footpath crossings with footbridges
-Installing warning lights as an additional safety measure at footpath crossings
-A new schools programme – Rail Life – teaching both primary and secondary school children about how to stay safe when crossing the railway
-Investing in new technology
-Introducing new cost effective barriers to open crossings
-Employing more than 100 new dedicated level crossing managers
-Community safety managers who work closely with local groups, councils and schools to raise awareness

The barriers were installed on the weekend of Saturday March 16th and Sunday March 17th, with construction works being carried out prior for this date to physically get the crossing in the ground.