Friday 10 Feb 2012
INCHYRA CROSSING CLOSURE MARKS FIRST FOR NETWORK RAIL
- Region & Route:
- Scotland’s Railway: Scotland
Network Rail today officially marked the closure of Inchyra level crossing in Perthshire – the first Scottish public crossing to close this century.
The automatic half-barrier crossing has been removed from the network after Perth and Kinross Council and Network Rail worked together to create a new link road to divert traffic away from the railway.
The new link road, between Inchyra and St Madoes in the Carse of Gowrie, was officially opened today by John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North and the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth.
The closure is part of a wider Network Rail initiative to reduce the number of level crossings on Scottish roads. The company, which cannot close public crossings without local authority support, is currently in negotiations with other councils over the future of several public crossings.
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Level crossing misuse represents the biggest outside risk to rail safety. We are committed to closing crossings where possible and we also avoid building new crossings into our lines.
“The closure of Inchyra shows what can be done to remove crossings from the network and is a great example of a local authority and Network Rail working together to improve public safety. We are in discussions with other councils regarding more level crossings and hope that today’s closure is just the first of many in Scotland.”
Perth and Kinross enterprise and infrastructure convener, councillor John Kellas commented: "We are pleased to have worked with Network Rail to make a dual improvement to transport safety in the Carse through this project. The new link road provides better access for residents and visitors to Inchyra, in combination with the closure of the level crossing, removing a hazard point for motorists and train travellers alike."
Notes to editors
- As part of the project, which was funded by Network Rail, 1100 metres of single carriageway with passing places was designed by Atkins and constructed by contractors RJ McLeod, along with associated works for drainage, protection of public utilities and the installation of a concrete culvert to allow the new road to cross the Cairnie Pow watercourse
- Level crossing misuse is the biggest outside risk to rail safety and Network Rail works hard to raise awareness of safe use among motorist through TV, radio and print safety campaigns and by working closely with the BTP to educate crossing users
- Network Rail also works closely with the BTP to seek the prosecution those who abuse the infrastructure – and funded the introduction of a new police CCTV camera van to monitor crossing abuse in Scotland last September
- The company is also looking at a wide range of other options for reducing risk at crossings – including upgrading open crossings as they become due for renewal and developing new technologies which can be used to enhance protection for rail and road users (such as obstacle detection crossings)
- Trials of an innovative new mini-barrier system for open crossings will also begin shortly at Ardrossan in Ayrshire.
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