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Monday 28 Apr 2014

Local MP visits new Ingatestone underpass

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Brentwood MP Eric Pickles was in Ingatestone on Friday 25 March to see the newly completed underpass, which allowed Network Rail to permanently close Ingatestone Hall footpath level crossing.

The crossing was identified in 2011 as having inadequate sighting when trains approached. Working closely with Essex County Council, the decision was taken to close the public crossing immediately that same year and pedestrians used an alternative route crossing the railway.

Different ways to make the crossing safer were investigated such as clearing overgrown hedgerow, lowering train speeds and diverting the footpath to a nearby under bridge.

However, after meeting Eric Pickles MP and holding a public meeting in May 2013, it was confirmed that an underpass would be installed to permanently replace the level crossing.

Work began soon after to build the £4.5m underpass underneath the railway tracks using a ‘box and jack’ method sliding the underpass under the railway while trains were still running over the top to avoid disrupting services.

Accompanying Mr Pickles on his visit were Richard Schofield Network Rail’s Anglia route managing director and other local representatives.

The Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar said: “It took a little bit of time to convince Network Rail of the need for the ability to cross the rail lines using Footpath 37, but after some considerable pressure from local footpath users and my meeting with Network Rail in May last year, the company has cracked on with the work needed. I am very pleased the path, which enables local people to access the beautiful countryside around Ingatestone, has been restored with the building of this underpass and I am sure it will be used by walkers for decades to come.”

Richard Schofield, Network Rail route managing director, said: “The completion of the new subway is great news for pedestrians in Ingatestone. We have closed almost 100 level crossings in Anglia since 2010 and we will continue to close more by 2019. Safety is the number one priority for Network Rail and there is much more we can do to make level crossings safer.

“I’d like to thank local community for their patience during the construction of the subway and look forward to continue to work with them and the local authority in the future.

“A big thank you also goes to our partners at J Murphy & Sons Limited, who worked tirelessly and with great professionalism to deliver this project on our behalf.”

Network Rail continues looking to close level crossings wherever possible and provide an alternative way to cross the railway.