Safety improvements made at six footpath level crossings across Suffolk and Essex

Thursday 16 Feb 2017

Safety improvements made at six footpath level crossings across Suffolk and Essex

Region & Route:: Eastern: Anglia; | Eastern

Six footpath level crossings across Suffolk and Essex have been made safer following improvements carried out by Network Rail as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan.

Footpath level crossings in Bentley, Trimley St Martin and Levingston in Suffolk, and Witham, Dedham and Weeley in Essex have been improved owing to the high speed of trains which pass through. For example, Potters level crossing in Witham, can see up to 293 trains per day that pass at up to 100mph.

At all six level crossings, work has taken place to straighten the crossings to improve sighting for users and shorten the time it takes to cross, making it safer. New lines have been painted to mark out the crossing and make the pathway across more distinctive to encourage users to cross in the correct place. Blue LED lights have also been installed which help to mark out the edges of the crossing in the dark and also have a calming effect.

At these crossings where people need to stop, look and listen for a train before deciding to cross, new flat footpath approaches have been created with fencing and coloured paving to clearly define the location where the decision to cross can be made safely and the point at which they enter the danger zone of the crossing.

Daniel Fisk, Network Rail’s route level crossing manager, said: “The improvements we’ve made at these footpath crossings, as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, will make them considerably safer for people to use. Straightening and marking out the pathway with special lights will reduce crossing time and we have made it easier for people to understand exactly where and when they need to safely stop, look and listen for a train, before deciding to cross.”

Improvements are also scheduled to take place at Kingston Farm level crossing in Woodbridge, Suffolk and Spring Lane and Wivenhoe Park level crossings in Wivenhoe, Essex by the end of March.

Notes to Editors

Improvements have been made at the following crossings:

Church Lane level crossing, Weeley, Essex

Types of trains: Passenger

Line speed: 75 mph

Approx no of trains per day: 94

Census results per day: 21 Pedestrians or Cyclists

Dedham level crossing, Long Rd East, Dedham, Essex