Great Western Coffee Shop

Because of continuing safety concerns Network Rail built a shed at the end of platform 1 a few months ago and a hapless employee sits there for most of the day monitoring the barrow crossing. Maybe the ongoing cost of doing this has persuaded Network Rail to push the long mooted footbridge up the pecking order.

Bridge for Farnborough North railway station 'death trap' that has seen 100 accidents

Further plans have been unveiled to improve safety at a notorious railway crossing, including the construction of a new bridge.

The level crossing at Farnborough North station has been a hot topic among residents and councillors for many years.

Labelled a ^death trap^ by the principal of Farnborough Sixth Form College, there has been a number of near misses at the crossing and the college has been working closely with Network Rail, British Transport Police, First Great Western and other agencies to encourage modernisation of the station, platforms and crossing to help rail users.

Earlier this year, Paula Williams, community relations manager at Network Rail, told Rushmoor borough councillors that the rail operator was considering ^all options^ to improve safety at the crossing.

There were also discussions on potentially closing the crossing completely and building a bridge instead.

Network Rail has closed more than 900 level crossings during the past five years and plans to close 500 more by 2019. This week, it confirmed it was moving forward with plans to build a bridge.

A spokesman for the rail provider said Network Rail was developing plans to close the Farnborough North level crossing and replace it with a footbridge that would have steps and ramped access.

A meeting was held between Network Rail and local residents and councillors on Monday evening (August 3) to discuss the plans.

Land ownership issues mean it is difficult for Network Rail to acquire the space to build a ramp and the company is currently in talks as to how it can proceed.

Councillor Gareth Lyon, who represents Empress ward, said: ^I think a bridge is very much needed. It needs to be built in sympathy with the area as the station is in a very important conservation area. I hope they will also provide extra parking facilities.^

A total of 93 incidents involving the Farnborough North railway crossing have been recorded between the start of 2004 and February this year. Of those, 15 incidents were near-misses.

The Network Rail spokesman also confirmed that a guard had been introduced to safeguard the crossing and operate magnetic locks on the gates when a train approaches and to release them when the lights indicate it is safe to do.

Figures obtained from Network Rail suggest there are often near-misses when passengers are changing rail train services, with pedestrians and cyclists often ignoring warnings.

Network Rail insists level crossings are safe if used correctly. However, around 95% of accidents are caused by misuse or error, such as pedestrians and drivers ignoring red signals, barriers and klaxons.

Rushmoor councillor Mike Roberts said: ^m surprised that Farnborough North, one of the 10 worst level crossings for safety, is still almost in the same state. The only way forward is to have a compulsory bridge and stop anyone crossing. That will mean compulsory purchase of land but it needs to be done.

^This is a matter which needed to have been sorted a long time ago.^