Media centre

Wednesday 11 Jan 2006

PHOTOCALL: LLANELLI LEVEL CROSSING WARNINGS

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Date: Monday 16 January 2006 Time: 10:30am Location: Llanelli East level crossing, Station Road, nr Llanelli Station Event: Photocall with Nia Griffiths MP for Llanelli and representatives from Network Rail, British Transport Police and Arriva Trains Wales to highlight the problem of level crossing misuse in Llanelli Media Contact: Kirsty Anderson, 01793 515267 In the past six months, the two level crossings at Llanelli Station have been abused by motorists and pedestrians more than 30 times – including trespassing by adults, young people and children, young people bouncing on the crossing barriers and vehicles “jumping” closing barriers. Mark Langman, Network Rail’s General Manager for Wales & the Marches, said: “We are very concerned about the way people are abusing the two level crossings at Llanelli Station. In December alone we recorded seven cases of mis-use. Such incidents could have serious consequences – not only for the abusers themselves, but also for rail passengers and staff.” To help combat the problem, Network Rail, in association with local MP Nia Griffiths, the British Transport Police and Arriva Trains Wales, is making its presence felt at the station, warning people of the dangers of abusing level crossings and showing them how they should be used. Nia Griffiths, MP for Llanelli, said: "Level crossings can be dangerous places if used incorrectly; they are not places to fool about. No matter how much of a hurry we're in, it is simply not worth risking lives for the sake of a few minutes. We should all take the warning signals seriously. We must get this message out to everyone - this will make Llanelli a safer place." Since October 2005, the British Transport Police has detected over 30 vehicles as failing to conform with the road traffic signals at the crossings, the registered keepers have been identified, and notices of intended prosecution were sent out to them. Recent cases from other crossings have resulted in fines of c.£150, with three penalty points also being added to licences. Inspector Dalby from the British Transport Police said: "We take each reported case of level crossing mis-use seriously, and we seek to take the offenders before the courts. Where there is repeated abuse and mis-use of crossings, we do and we will mount both covert and overt operations to detect offenders and educate crossing-users on their responsibilities at these crossings. Together with our partners, like Network Rail, the use of monitoring equipment such as cameras is also considered to assist in these tasks." Mike Hurley, Retail Manager South for Arriva Trains Wales, concluded: “The safety of our customers and local residents who use the railway crossing is paramount, and we must raise awareness of the need to stick to the rules and be vigilant when using the crossing. “We work proactively with our British Transport Police colleagues to ensure that abuses of the crossing are reported and investigated.”