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Thursday 1 Apr 2021

Network Rail takes emergency action to close foot crossing on railway near Hildenborough, Kent

Region & Route:

Southern: Kent

| Southern

A footpath crossing of the main London-Tonbridge railway in countryside near Hildenborough is being closed by Network Rail today (Thursday) as an emergency, after a survey of the crossing revealed much higher usage than expected.

Foucham’s crossing carries a footpath from Philpots Lane to Nizels Lane in the countryside near Hildenborough station. Another footpath slightly further down the line links the same roads via a bridge, without the need to cross the railway.

Over 260 trains pass the crossing every day at speeds of up to 100mph, some within 20 seconds of each other, and a recent survey found an unexpected increase in users.

Network Rail Kent’s Head of Route Quality Health Safety & Environment, Vincent van der Hoeven, said: “Footpath crossings like Foucham’s are a legacy of the past and we keep a constant check on how many people are using them so we know what safety features to put in place or whether they should even be open at all.

“In this instance the speed of the trains, the frequency of the trains and the rise in people using the crossing – from one or two a week to almost 10 a day, meant we were left with little choice but to ask for permission to close it under emergency measures.

“We’re now examining what we can do with this crossing in future – it is still a public right of way and we mustn’t lose sight of that. In the meantime, there is a safe route over the railway just down the road.”

While the crossing is closed, the whistle boards that instruct train drivers to use their horns will be removed.