Improved signage to help keep motorists and pedestrians safe when using private level crossings could been introduced under plans announced today, Thursday 27th June.

Private level crossings are intersections where a railway crosses a road or footpath on private land.

The gates often need to be operated manually with some crossings requiring users to telephone a signaller to check that it is safe to cross.

To improve safety at these crossings, the Department for Transport has worked closely with Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and Network Rail to revise and make improvements to the signs used.

New designs have been tested at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire since August 2018.

The government now intends to introduce legislation to the Private Crossings (Signs and Barriers) Regulations 1996 which would see these new designs brought onto the network next year.

There are around 2,500 private crossings in the UK, representing more than a third of all level crossings on the network.

The technology available to the rail industry to manage level crossings and enhance protection has also developed in recent years, such as through technical advances in Miniature Stop Lights. The signage at crossings has not developed at the same rate, presenting a safety risk to members of the public, with more trains running than ever before.

What did the officials say?

Rail Minister, Andrew Jones, said:

“The safety of everyone using our rail network is always our priority.

“Private level crossings represent a particular area of risk on our network, so it is vital that we update decade-old signs to ensure they are simple and safe for users.

“We will continue to work with the industry to test these new signs and ensure our rail network remains one of the safest in the world.”

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