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Britain’s first sliding gate level crossing barriers are now operational in the North East after a recent upgrade as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Passengers on one of the busiest rail routes in the north west of England are a step closer to a faster, more reliable electrified railway after the new tunnel at Farnworth opened to passenger train services this morning (Monday 14 Dec 2015).  

More than 60 open level crossings have been fitted with a new modular barrier system to improve safety and reduce the risk of a road vehicle collision with a train. The barriers at Brewster Lane and Matt Pitts Lane in Skegness, Lincolnshire were brought into use this month, the final two of 66 crossings which have been upgraded as part of a three year national programme.

A £250m programme of rail investment is entering its final stages this Christmas with work taking place to help improve performance and reliability on the West Coast main line near Stafford.

Network Rail is seeking the public’s view on its Scotland Route Study – a long-term plan looking at how Scotland’s railway could evolve over the next three decades.

As thousands of drivers take to the roads to deliver the estimated 200m parcels that have been ordered in the run-up to Christmas, Network Rail has teamed up with some of the biggest road fleets in Britain to help drivers stay safe at level crossings this winter. 

Two level crossings are being revamped as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan which will see a better, more reliable railway for passengers and businesses in Greater Lincolnshire.

Teams from Network Rail and Southeastern have been working round the clock to prepare Rochester’s £26m new station for its opening on Sunday evening (December 13), ready for the journey to work the following Monday morning .