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Wednesday 6 Oct 2004

LEVEL CROSSING STATISTICS TO BE REVEALED TO LOCAL MP

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Date:                                      Thursday, 7 October 2004 Time:                                     1.30pm-3.00pm Place:                                     Dingwall middle level crossing (A862) Photo Opportunity:            John Thurso, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross is set to hear at first hand the latest Dingwall level crossing statistics while on a tour of the rail infrastructure on Thursday 7 October 2004.  The 2004 figures will be released at the event to the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Transport and Scotland  by Network Rail and the British Transport Police. The MP’s tour will take in an examination of the CCTV cameras which are being trialled in Scotland to help combat level crossing offences.  He will visit each of the three level crossings in the area to view inroads made into level crossing crime and be joined by representatives of Network Rail, the British Transport Police and rail industry partners.             Dingwall statistics - 1 John Thurso commented:  “Negligence at level crossings is the single biggest risk to passengers and Dingwall has a particularly worrying record.  A great deal of work is being done here and in other level crossing ‘hot spots’, by Network Rail and the British Transport Police, including regular safety campaigns, to minimise the incidence of these irresponsible acts.  People who behave in this manner have to realise that they are not just putting their own lives at risks but hundreds of train travellers too.” Level crossing crime statistics triggered the campaign. In 2003, 455 motorists were photographed breaking the law at level crossings in Scotland. And in the first six months of this year there have been 39 incidences of drivers committing offences in Dingwall.