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Thursday 5 Jul 2018

Rail Safety Week in Lancashire - helping keep people safe on the railway

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Network Rail and officers from British Transport Police were at Carleton level crossing in Poulton-le-Fylde this week talking to pedestrians and drivers about using the crossing the safely.

The level crossing visit on Monday (2 July) was part of Rail Safety Week (2-8 July) and aimed to raise awareness among the public about the importance of always staying safe when on or near the railway.

In the last five years, there have been 17 reported incidents of deliberate misuse at Carleton crossing, which sits on the Preston to Blackpool North railway line. These include drivers attempting to cross the crossing while barriers were lowering, a driver overtaking a line of queuing traffic and passing through when the crossing lights were on red. Barriers were also damaged when a bus attempted to pass through when the crossing lights were on red and there have also been reports of children climbing and sitting on barriers.

The railway line has recently been electrified and the overhead electric wires are always switched on – even when there are no trains passing. They carry 25,000 volts of electricity which can have devastating consequences if anyone gets too close or comes into contact with the electrified wires.

Kurt Shipperbottom, level crossing manager for Network Rail, said: “When you use a level crossing every day, it’s easy to become complacent about the risks involved.

“We’ve been talking to motorists and pedestrians about following safety advice and traffic signals at level crossings. The risk in trying to save a couple of minutes by jumping a level crossing just isn't worth it."

“It’s been great speaking to local people, not only to raise awareness of these risks, but to help people understand that by taking a few simple steps and following safety advice provided, they can keep themselves and others safe while using the crossing.”

For more information on level crossing safety please visit https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/level-crossing-safety/