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Friday 25 Apr 2014

See track // think train – Network Rail launches new guides for level crossings users

Region & Route:

National

New guides to help members of the public use level crossings safely have been launched by Network Rail.

Covering the potential dangers, and stressing the importance of never making assumptions before attempting to cross the railway track, the guides provide a useful reminder of the steps to take when approaching and using a level crossing.

They have been produced in partnership with the Office of Rail Regulation and the Heritage Railway Association.

Darren Furness, head of level crossings for Network Rail said: “Britain has one of the safest railways in Europe but level crossings remain a risk. We are investing £100 million in the next five years to upgrade and improve crossings across the country but we also want to help everyone who uses a level crossing have the knowledge they need so that they can approach a level crossing with confidence, knowing that they have taken every precaution necessary to get to the other side safely.”

Network Rail has invested £130 million into its programme to improve level crossing safety between 2010 and 2014. During this time it has:

• Closed nearly 800 level crossings
• Replaced footpath crossings with footbridges
• Installing warning lights as an additional safety measure at footpath crossings
• Launched a new schools programme – Rail Life – teaching both primary and secondary school children about how to stay safe when crossing the railway
• Rolled out safety camera enforcement vans
• Invested in new technology such as the obstacle detection radar technology
• Introduced power operated gate openers
• Installed spoken warnings to announce when “another train is coming” after one train has passed through
• Employed more than 100 new dedicated level crossing managers
• Community safety managers who work closely with local groups, councils and schools to raise awareness

Network Rail has pledged to close a further 500 crossings in the next five years, investing £100 million into its national level crossing safety programme.

The guides are available on the Network Rail website – http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/using-level-crossings/ – in both interactive form and as downloadable PDFs. Individual guides have been created for the four main groups of users of the crossings: pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and horse riders giving specific advice tailored to each user group.