Leighton Buzzard Railway told to replace 'flagmen' at road crossings

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

A heritage railway is getting rid of its volunteers who hold "stop" flags where trains cross public roads and replacing them with flashing lights.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway, in Bedfordshire, opened in 1919 to serve quarries, and has used "flagmen" along its three-mile route.

It said it was served with improvement notices from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) meaning it must now install "Wig-Wag" colour light signals at three road junctions.

Ian Hale, the railway's operations manager, said although some volunteers see it as a "loss of tradition, health and safety has to be the prime mover".

[Ralph Ayres]

I'd always assumed the current arrangement was driven more by cost than safety. No mention of barriers so I wonder if it will actually be any safer. I know occasionally road users get belligerent when stopped by someone waving a flag and may refuse to wait, but at least then there is a human presence to liaise with the train crew. Flashing red lights are if anything more of a temptation to jump as there is no obvious witness on the spot other than on the train approaching slowly at right angles. Local residents may not be keen on any audible alarms accompanying the lights.