Thursday 6 Aug 2009
TIPTON LEVEL CROSSING USERS GET HARD HITTING SAFETY MESSAGE
- Region & Route:
MEDIA INVITATION - 9AM TIPTON LEVEL CROSSING - PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Network Rail is alerting Tipton pedestrians to the dangers of level crossing misuse on Friday 7 August. Tipton has the West Midlands’ most misused public crossing. The awareness day aims to combat the irresponsible use of the crossing and highlight the dangers of ignoring warning signs and barriers.
The Owen Street subway at Tipton level crossing was closed on Monday 15 June so that work on the new underpass could take place. Pedestrians are currently using the level crossing to cross the railway, but some people are misusing the crossing. Network Rail will be joined by West Midlands’ Police, the British Transport Police and London Midland to remind pedestrians to use the level crossing correctly and not put their lives at risk.
The team will be handing out leaflets and speaking to pedestrians about the chilling truth that taking a chance at a level crossing might be the last thing you do, and pose the question: ‘would it kill you to wait?’
Tipton is one of 25 level crossings in the West Midlands. There have been five recorded incidents since the 15th June. In all these incidents people put their lives on the line to save a few minutes.
Chris Rowley, area general manager, Network Rail said: “The barriers at this crossing can be closed for over 10 minutes at a time as it is the last level crossing on the busy West Coast mainline, so it is really important that people are patient and wait. Trains travel over the crossing at speeds of up to 75 mph and would be unable to stop if someone stepped out onto the crossing when the barriers are down. We are making sure people in the area know the dangers of the railway and use the level crossing properly.”
During the closure, approach ramps to the subway will be reconstructed to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. The subway is due to re-open to pedestrians in October 2009 at the same time that the new road subway will open.
Network Rail advises pedestrians take extra care at level crossings and follow any instructions at the crossing. Do not cross if the red lights show, an alarm is sounding or the barriers are being lowered.
Allan Gregory, chief inspector with British Transport Police said: “It is imperative that pedestrians and drivers do not take risks at rail crossings, primarily for their own safety. We will continue to carry out enforcement operations to further underline this message, and to try to alter risk-taking behaviour. Rest assured that anyone detected misusing any level crossing – either through camera evidence or through officers witnessing offences - will be prosecuted and dealt with by the courts. It is simply not worth risking your own life or the lives of others, for the sake of trying to save a few minutes”.
Notes to editors
• The crossing was closed to road traffic on Monday 15th June 2009. • The level crossing will not reopen to traffic. • A new underpass is being constructed under the railway which will re-establish through traffic on the B4517 Alexandra Road and Owen Street. • The diversion routes are: B4163 Upper Church Lane > A4037 High Street > A4037 Bloomfield Road > A4037 Hurst Lane > A457 Sedgley Road West and vice-versa; and B4163 Lower Church Lane (traffic calming) > A461 Dudley Port > A457 A457 Sedgley Road East > A457 Park Lane West > B4157 High Street and vice-versa. • The project is being managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and is due for completion in October 2009. • More information about Network Rail's level crossing safety campaign "Don't Run the Risk" can be found at http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=1838&NewsAreaID=17&SearchCategoryID=-1 • Prior to the closure of the subway, Network Rail’s railway community safety manager visited St Paul’s Primary School and Sunny Hill Primary School, the two schools closest to the crossing, to explain to pupils how to use level crossings safely. • To improve safety and convenience for users of the level crossing the following additional measures were put in place: • waiting areas with shelters are provided either side of the level crossing • pedestrians are being accompanied across the level crossing at peak times. This work forms part of a project to build a new underpass for road traffic under the railway at Tipton and close the level crossing. LEVEL CROSSING STATS Last year, over 55 days of delays to trains and passengers were caused by level crossing misuse, costing Network Rail around £1.8million – money that could have been invested into the railway. The real cost to the industry far exceeds this, as it does not include actual damage to trains or tracks or staffing time and cost. Facts about level crossings - Level crossings are safe if used correctly - 95% of accidents at level crossings are caused by misuse or error– i.e. drivers ignoring red signals, barriers and klaxons - There are over 7,600 level crossings both on public and private land that cut across the UK railway network.
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