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Friday 14 Aug 2015

Colthrop level crossing users get safety message

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Users of Colthrop level crossing are being targeted this week in a campaign by Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) to help them stay safe on the railway.

A high number of pedestrians and vehicles use Colthrop crossing as it provides access to a nearby industrial estate. The purpose of the campaign is to inform its users, particularly those who work at and visit the estate, how the crossing works and how they can use it correctly to keep themselves and other safe. 

Alan Durham, Network Rail’s level crossing manager, said: “Colthrop level crossing does not have a high level of recorded misuse, but it is very busy with lots of people coming and going all day.

“As part of our commitment to improve public safety we have pledged that where we cannot close a level crossing we will make it safer, which is why it’s important for us to regularly remind users of the safety messages.”

Staff from Network Rail and BTP will be at the crossing on Tuesday 18 August between 4.30pm and 6pm to speak to pedestrians and motorists and hand out flyers containing key safety information. The team will also be visiting businesses on the industrial estate to inform them of the safety messages and ask that they pass these on to their visitors.

Alan continued: “We understand that waiting at a level crossing can be frustrating, but the barriers are down for a reason. In the case of Colthrop, trains are regularly travelling through at up to 100mph. At these speeds, stopping distances for trains are greater, so to maintain the safety of users the barriers need to be down for longer.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information on Network Rail's programme of activity on level crossings, including the education programme RailLife, visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/