Lights warning system to improve level crossing safety in East Anglia
Posted: 14 October 2016 | | 1 comment
Level crossing safety is to be improved across East Anglia with the installation of a new lights warning system.
Level crossing safety is to be improved across East Anglia with the installation of a new lights warning system.
Part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, the red and green lights will be installed at three crossings where no warning system or automatic barrier is in place. The crossings are usually where users need to stop, look and listen before crossing, or where they need to phone the signaller to allow them to cross.
Level crossing safety improved where there is no warning system or automatic barrier in place
The light will be green when the crossing is clear and red when a train is approaching, to help people to understand when it is safe to cross.
The lights warning system will be installed at crossings in Thetford, Lakenheath, and at Hockham Road in Roundham.
According to Network Rail, the system doesn’t need to be integrated with the railway’s existing signalling infrastructure, meaning the lights can be installed easily to quickly improve the safety of level crossings that currently have no warning systems.
Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “Keeping people safe at level crossings is a priority. This system can be installed quickly and make crossing the railway much safer at these locations.”
Initially, the system will be installed at a number of high risk footpath, bridleway and private road level crossings.
Because it is very uncommon to see trains on train crossings, I think that it would be important to make sure that the people are warned enough. If there are led signs and cross arms, it would be much easier for people to know if trains are coming or not. It would also dramatically reduce the risk of people getting injured by trains. I think that it would be very important to make sure that train crossings are correctly marked.