Media centre

Monday 10 Jul 2017

New barriers for Cornton level crossing

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail has today announced plans to enhance safety at Cornton by installing an upgraded full-barrier level crossing system.

The company will withdraw its planning application for a road bridge and all-abilities footbridge over the railway and proceed instead with a full-barrier crossing, with obstacle detection sensors.

The installation of an enhanced crossing will allow Network Rail to meet its safety commitments to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the rail safety regulator, to either upgrade or close the crossing by 2020.

Installing the new barrier system will also remove the risk of bridgeworks at Cornton, which are still to go through the planning process, delaying the planned electrification of the Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa railway lines.

The cost of the road overbridge has escalated since the plans were first announced with changes in the design, the inclusion of the footbridge and additional road infrastructure works contributing to a current cost estimate of £20m.

Network Rail’s David Dickson, infrastructure director for the ScotRail Alliance, said: “We have been seeking ways to improve safety at Cornton level crossing for several years, however, rising costs and time constraints mean an overbridge at this location is no longer a viable solution for the railway.

“Proposals for an overbridge have also proved unpopular among many local residents and this new solution will allow us to greatly improve safety at the crossing without changing the wider environment.”

The new solution uses optical remote sensing technology, which scans the crossing for obstacles on the track. If an object is detected, trains will not be given the signal to proceed. The crossing will also be protected with full barriers as opposed to the existing half-barrier arrangement.