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Thursday 28 Oct 2010

IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO CANNOCK LEVEL CROSSING

Region & Route:

Network Rail has installed additional gates at Moors Gorse crossing off Marquis Drive, Brindley Heath to reduce the risk of a serious incident. There are now separate gates for pedestrians to use, depending on the direction they are coming from.

The crossing goes over the railway line between Rugeley Town and Hednesford stations, where trains travel at up to 50 mph. There are metal gates for local residents to bring vehicles across but cyclists and pedestrians used to use a small side gate.

However, the recent opening of a new mountain bike trail has led to the crossing being used by over 3,000 bike riders every weekend. Consequently, with only one pedestrian crossing available, there were frequent ‘log jams’ of cyclists in the middle of the railway line trying to get across.

Gemma Duffy, Network Rail’s community safety manager, explained what the company has done to improve the situation: “There is now a pedestrian crossing either side of the main vehicle gates and the intention is that pedestrians and cyclists cross in one direction only, using the left-hand gate. This is clearly marked with a ‘cyclist’s dismount’ sign, whereas the other gate has a ‘no entry’ sign.

“This means that everyone on foot will be crossing in the same direction so there will less opportunity for bunching up on the railway lines.”

Network Rail, the Forestry Commission and British Transport Police will be holding an awareness day at the crossing between 10am and 2.30pm on Saturday 6 November to help people understand how the new system works.