Friday 9 Aug 2013
Highlighting level crossing safety in Southport
- Region & Route:
Network Rail will be hosting an awareness event at Birkdale level crossing in Southport next week to help educate people about how to cross the railway safely and prevent accidents.
Level crossing safety in Britain is amongst the best in Europe. Despite this, nine people were killed at level crossings in Britain in the last year.*
Merseyrail and the British Transport Police will join Network Rail at the session to educate people about how to cross the railway safely and prevent accidents.
Approximately 54,000 Merseyrail trains pass over Birkdale level crossing annually and earlier in 2013, Network Rail and British Transport Police revealed that six penalty tickets had been issued to vehicle drivers going through red lights there.
Dyan Crowther, Network Rail route managing director said: “Where a road or footpath meets the railway there will always be a risk – tragically, for a few people every year, this results in injury or loss of life. We want to reduce the chances of this happening as much as possible. This operation is all about raising awareness to the public in Southport on how to use level crossings safely and making them aware of the risks associated with getting distracted or ignoring warning signs.”
Sergeant Steve Lawman, of BTP’s Southport Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: “It is hard to believe that so many people are prepared to put their life, and those of others, at risk simply to save a few seconds at the level crossing.
“This impatience is reckless and dangerous and we are working closely with Network Rail and Merseyside Police to address the problem.
“This is a busy area with many trains using the crossing each day and pedestrians and drivers need to be aware of the potential danger.”
Maarten Spaargaren, managing director of Merseyrail added: “Birkdale level crossing is the eleventh most dangerous crossing nationally. It’s situated in a very busy place and with lots of cars going over it and while no serious accidents have happened there so far, we’re keen to work with Network Rail and the British Transport Police to ensure that it remains a safe place for the general public and Merseyrail customers alike.”
The event on 14 August will start at 8.30am.
Notes to editors
Network Rail has a £130m investment programme to improve level crossing safety and has now closed 700 level crossings across Britain – around 10 per cent of the total – since 2009 as part of this programme.
Other work underway 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
- Rolling out more camera enforcement vans
- 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
Visit http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/types-of-level-crossing/footpath-crossings/ for more information and guidance on how to use them safely.
*Incident data from 01 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 - complied on behalf of the rail industry by RSSB (Rail Safety & Standards Board)
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