Closure of Poole level crossing proposed

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the Bournemouth Echo

SAFETY concerns over Poole's town centre's "problematic" railway crossing has led Network Rail to announce it intends to close the pedestrian route at a future date.

In a letter to Borough of Poole, responding to the town centre core strategy review, the company said: "Current misuse of the crossing (both deliberate and accidental) by either swinging or climbing on the barriers or people becoming trapped is posing a safety risk."

It pointed out that it became extremely busy which made it more difficult for the controller and crossing users.

"Due to the movement away from the local signaller in his small signal box and the placing of this crossing on a much larger panel at Basingstoke, signallers are finding it increasingly difficult to undertake their job effectively and safely."

[JayMac]

So is that Network Rail admitting that they've compromised safety by moving the control of the crossing to a remote location?

And deflecting blame onto the users?

[grahame]

So is that Network Rail admitting that they've compromised safety by moving the control of the crossing to a remote location?

And deflecting blame onto the users?

Glad I'm not the only one who read it like that.

[ellendune]

How local was the control previously?

[JayMac]

Whilst the control wasn't previously right next to the crossing (I believe it was controlled from the box at the north end of Poole station), it does appear that control from Basingstoke is being compromised because of workload and the nature of the crossing.

I don't have an issue with the move to ROCs^▸ (Rail Operating Centre - a centralised location for railway signalling and train control operations for a specific route or region) per se, but I do think there are some level crossings that should retain local control.

[SandTEngineer]

Well at the time of design NR^» (Network Rail - home page) were warned.........


Image (c)2015 SandTEngineer

[Bmblbzzz]

It does read that way. If the crossing is closed, I hope a suitable footbridge or underpass will be provided.

[SandTEngineer]

It does read that way. If the crossing is closed, I hope a suitable footbridge or underpass will be provided.

It has a footbridge already that you can just see in the bottom RH corner of the photograph in my post above.......

Note: For those that don't know the area the level crossing is located in the middle of Poole pedestrianised shopping centre.  The only road vehicles authorised to use it are emergency vehicles, council vehicles and delivery vehicles.

[Timmer]

If people, small minority I know, used the crossing properly and didn't abuse it then Network Rail wouldn't feel the need to close it.

There's only so much educating you can do before the decision has to be taken to close it.

[JayMac]

Question is, what was the misuse like when it was controlled more locally?

If misuse has worsened since control moved to Basingstoke then perhaps the blame is more on the side of Network Rail.

[Bmblbzzz]

If people, small minority I know, used the crossing properly and didn't abuse it then Network Rail wouldn't feel the need to close it.

There's only so much educating you can do before the decision has to be taken to close it.

Although if you apply that logic to the rest of the road network, every highway and byway in the country would be closed.

[bobm]

I haven't been to Wokingham since the road layout around the crossing was remodelled, but I always thought that would also be a difficult set of barriers to control via CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision).

[Ollie]

I haven't been to Wokingham since the road layout around the crossing was remodelled, but I always thought that would also be a difficult set of barriers to control via CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision).

With the recent road changes in the area it would probably be easier now with CCTV than it would have been, but that's not to say I'd encourage it

[Timmer]

Although if you apply that logic to the rest of the road network, every highway and byway in the country would be closed.

Indeed, but Network Rail are very sensitive towards level crossings and if they can close them they will as it lessons the risk of injury or death.

[stuving]

I haven't been to Wokingham since the road layout around the crossing was remodelled, but I always thought that would also be a difficult set of barriers to control via CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision).

With the recent road changes in the area it would probably be easier now with CCTV than it would have been, but that's not to say I'd encourage it

As far as I know, re-signalling and transfer of control of the Wokingham station crossing to Basingstoke is still due in 2017. That might be CCTV or just radar - if that rather questionable arrangement is still being considered. I would hope that any decision will depend on observing how the new arrangement works.

The new traffic-light junction has improved the traffic conditions at the crossing - shorter queues, more free space around the barriers, more orderly traffic most of the time. However, it introduces a new kind of indiscipline: drivers ignoring the banned turns and even the no entry signs. This surprises other road users, of all kinds, so leads to near accidents (and potentially to accidents too) and abrupt evasive actions.

And of course there are the pedestrians, who are not subject to the new lights anyway.