"It is tragic that there has been another death and serious injuries in another collision between a train and a road vehicle at a level crossing," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"It is fortunate that the train was not derailed and that serious injury to the train's passengers and crew appears to have been avoided.

"But the tragic fact is that every level-crossing collission is avoidable, because the time is long overdue for a programme to elminate level crossings from Britain's railway network.

"Every year there are scores of level crossing incidents, including a number of collisions between trains and road vehicles, and the Railways Inspectorate has long identified level crossings as the biggest single danger on today's railway network.

"On Network Rail's own figures it would cost an average of £1 million to replace each level crossing with an underpass or road-bridge - that's about half the cost of a mile of motorway.

"Level crossings are a 19th century solution - in the 21st century it is high time for a commitment to separate rail and road traffic," Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: A ten-year programme to replace the 1,700 crossings where the railway interfaces with public roads would cost less than £2 billion - that's about £200 million a year.

Network Rail spends £14 million every day, and some £5 billion is invested in Britain's railways every year.

See also:

Rail bosses to be consulted on major new projects

Ross-shire Journal: 16 February, 2007
By Shirley Hastings

NETWORK Rail is to be consulted on major planning applications that come before the council in the hope it will add weight to the growing campaign for barriers at level crossings.

The move, which is part of an urgent re-assessment of several crossings in Ross-shire following the tragic death of two Easter Ross teenagers at Delny, comes as it was revealed this week that rail bosses were apparently unaware of several major developments in Dingwall — including the new secondary school under construction and Tesco.

In what has been hailed as an important step forward and a common sense approach, planning chiefs in the area have agreed that from now on the body will be drafted into consultations on any major planning applications.

The issue has been given a sense of urgency since the deaths of 17-year-olds Paul Oliver and Alan Thain, both passengers in a car driven by Richard Fleming when it collided with a north-bound train at the barrier-free crossing.

It also emerged this week that a safety assessment was done on the Delny crossing just “days” before the horrific accident according to a Network Rail spokesperson who said it was found “to be extremely safe.”

However, since the deaths public assurances were given last week that the rail authority would probe safety at the crossing. Despite insisting the past safety record at Delny had shown it to be regarded as “still considerably safe” a spokesman admitted “it is important that it’s looked at again.”

Although Highland Council is under no legal obligation to include Network Rail in the planning process, it is something other authorities are already actively doing.

Senior Dingwall councillor Margaret Paterson, who held a meeting last week with representatives of the local authority and Network Rail, admitted it may have been an oversight on Highland Council’s part not to have considered Network Rail in the past.

“The council has no duty to consult Network Rail and it was probably something that officials just never thought of before but it definitely makes sense,” she said.

“We have a new road planned for the town as well as housing and the new Academy, all of which could give the justification needed for barriers.”

Dingwall Community Council has this week lent its weight to safety calls by agreeing to write to Network Rail in support of barriers.

According to Cllr Paterson, the town is the only one of its kind in Scotland to have three level crossings running through it.

“Wherever you go in Dingwall you almost always have to drive over a level crossing,” she stated. “It would seem to make sense in a town like this to consult with Network Rail over big planning applications that are going to have a significant impact on traffic.

Following last week’s meeting officials from Network Rail are due to come back to Dingwall in two months time with findings from its safety assessment.

Although still pushing for barriers, Cllr Paterson is keen to see immediate improvements such as extending the hoods which cover the warning lights.

She has also been given assurances from the rail authority that it will look at the problem of the glare from the sun.

Network Rail stressed crossings are assessed on an annual basis and developments like Tesco and Dingwall Academy would have been picked up at some point during these.

“It is much more effective if we are consulted during the planning process,” a spokesman said. “Obviously if there is any major increase in traffic using the crossings that would have an impact and would have bearing on whether barriers are put in place.”

He stressed however that safety barriers do not necessarily stop people flouting the law, with some drivers choosing to weave in and out of them.