Media centre

Tuesday 10 Oct 2017

New safety measures for Fisherman’s Path level crossing

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Network Rail is to make improvements to Fisherman’s Path level crossing in Formby.

Following a number of incidents, including near misses and a tragic fatality in August 2014, Network Rail is making the changes to immediately increase safety levels at the crossing. In the long term, there is an ambition to permanently close the crossing.               

To carry out the work, the crossing will be closed from 11pm on Monday 16 October until 6pm on Monday 30 October 2017.

Network Rail will undertake the following work:

• Removal of the current crossing deck and installation of a new deck. This will separate the pedestrian and vehicular sections of the crossing
• Repositioning of vehicle and pedestrian gates
• Resurfacing of the foot crossing/approach roads with new, clearer markings
• Installation of new fencing

Priti Patel, head of safety for Network Rail’s London North Western route, said: “The safety of crossing users and train passengers is our top priority.

“We are keen to improve safety at this location both in the short term by making changes to the crossing itself and in the long term by providing an alternative option across the railway. We will continue discussions with the local council to try and find a permanent solution at Fishermans Path Level Crossing.”

The majority of this work will take place during daytime hours; however for safety of our workforce some of the work can only take place when trains are not running. It is therefore necessary to work overnight throughout the closure.

Network Rail is committed to improving safety at level crossings. If Britain was building the railway now, there wouldn’t be any level crossings. The safest level crossing is a closed one and in the last seven years we have closed more than 1,000. Nationally, there are still 6,000 level crossings open and we work with a range of stakeholders, including local authorities and landowners, to maintain and improve safety levels wherever possible.