Tuesday 1 Jun 2010

MOORTHORPE BRIDGE OPENS TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Region & Route:

Rail passengers using Moorthorpe station have a safer route between platforms after a new footbridge opened at the station this weekend.

The bridge is part of a programme of works to remove crossings that have a history of misuse and, by permanently separating pedestrians and trains, improve safety.

Kevin Preece, area general manager for Network Rail, said: “This crossing had a history of misuse – where pedestrians dash across the tracks while the warning lights are showing.  This behaviour is obviously incredibly dangerous.”

“This bridge is part of a programme of works to replace such crossings with footbridges which also give full disabled access.”

The work covers four stations.  Bolton-upon-Deane was the first to complete and similar schemes are planned at Woodlesford and Normanton stations and a footpath at Thrislington in the north east.

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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

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