Media centre

Friday 28 Nov 2003

NEW LEVEL CROSSING FOR HOSCAR

Region & Route:

Network Rail has just completed a £1.3m scheme to provide the residents of Hoscar on the Wigan – Southport line with a new level crossing on Hoscar Moss Road, right outside the station. It is the first complete renewal of a level crossing in the north west for over 10 years. Work was carried out by the signalling works partnership alliance (a partnership between Network Rail and First Engineering) over a number of weekends and was deliberately planned to take place when trains were not running because of other work on the line. However, it did mean that Hoscar Moss Road was closed for a week at the end of October and local diversions were put in place. Road users and people living locally will have noticed very little difference to the old level crossing because it is what Network Rail describes as a like-for-like renewal. There are two new red and white rising arm barriers with red lights along the top, new amber and red flashing traffic lights in a high visibility red and white chequer-board surround and new warning signs and road markings. The electrical power supply to the crossing has also been renewed. On Network Rail land behind one of the station platforms there is a new portable building. At one end it contains all the new electrical signalling equipment while the other end has all the facilities a crossing keeper would need. Although the crossing is automatic and the lights and barrier sequence are worked by passing trains, Network Rail still has to provide the means for a member of staff to work the barriers in the event of an equipment failure.