At our February meeting we were joined by Tracy the Network Rail Level Crossing Manager to talk about recent issues using the crossing. Problems in this are not however new, see our post from 2022.
Tracey had responsibility for 56 crossings. She reassured us that the Cornton Road Crossing (No1) was inspected every 16 weeks. They are encountering approximately two incidents per week, which are caught on the cameras. Drivers caught remaining on the crossing, or entering when they should not, could face penalty points and fines. Check out this RAC guide to level crossings for everything you need to know.
The Cornton Road crossing is extremely busy with 4,000 vehicles a day (double the average) and 431 pedestrians using it.
Should you become stuck on the crossing you are however safe, due to the crossing being equipped with the latest obstacle detection technology that scans the area of the crossing to ensure that it is clear before trains are permitted to approach. If vehicles or pedestrians are within the crossing area, only the entry barriers will be activated so that no further vehicles can enter the area and trains will be instructed to stop. Only when the crossing area is clear will the exit barriers be activated and trains allowed to approach the level crossing.
We would like to remind you that it is very important that when driving this route you do not enter the railway crossing without knowing that your exit is clear. So please be patient and be aware that vehicles in front of you may not move until they are sure they can safely exit the crossing.
I’m sure everyone using this crossing on a daily basis as I do knows that the problem is caused by the unnecessarily wide cycle track which 99 pc of cyclists refuse to use – can using it not be mandatory? – exacabated by cars parked on the opposite side of the road making the road effectively one lane 🤦♀️!
Having lived here since 1964 this road was never a problem till these ‘improvements’ were made.
As a cyclist myself, I’m puzzled how making use of the cycle track mandatory would address the issue of it being “unnecessarily wide”? In fact it’s perfectly legal for cyclists to use the road even if there is a cycle track: often I choose to use the road if it avoids me getting in the way of pedestrians on the cycle track.
Sandra you are correct in your statement, not only do the cyclists not use it mostly, but if they do use it they ignore the give way signage on the cycle track and cycle straight over “the humps”. A accident waiting to happen if not already, question if a cyclist runs into a car on the humps which are part of the road. Who’s at fault? Who pays the repair bill?
The fact that the cycle track has give way signs and humps perhaps indicates why many cyclists (including me) prefer to use the road – which of course we’re perfectly entitled to do, regardless of the existence of a cycle track.