Published on : Wednesday, August 24, 2016
People across Suffolk are being invited to a second round of consultation events next month in Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket to see Network Rail’s updated proposals to close or change the use of 31 level crossings across the county by altering the public Rights of Way network.
Initial proposals were presented to the public at a series of consultation events in June, and people were encouraged to come along to ask questions and share any concerns or ideas before any decisions were made. Based on further assessments and the feedback received from the first round of consultations, the initial proposals have been refined into more specific options for each crossing.
This is part of a broader consultation across Network Rail’s Anglia route, which covers Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Southend, Thurrock and Havering. The consultation has identified around 130 crossings that could be closed or modified.
Closing level crossings and diverting to alternatives will make the railway safer by removing the point where people can come into contact with trains. The closures will also help improve reliability and may enable separate future developments for faster and more frequent train services. None of the crossings in this proposal involve closing public A or B roads.
Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “The initial consultations were very successful and we gathered a lot of useful feedback. I’d encourage anyone interested to come along to see the updated proposals and share any concerns or ideas with us, before we put these forward under Transport & Works Act Orders early next year.
“The proposals include small changes to how people cross the railway and the closures will help us reduce the risks that level crossings pose, improve safety and reliability of the railway for the future.”
The crossings identified for potential closure include those where:
there are private rights only
where pedestrians/cyclists/horse riders can easily be diverted to where a nearby alternative exists or
where a new public route to a nearby alternative can be provided
where a crossing could be changed to be used by pedestrians/cyclists/horse riders only
Consultation sessions will take place across the region from next month. The results of the consultation will feed into agreed plans that will then be put forward under Transport & Works Act Orders early next year. Closures, if agreed, will take place in 2018 and 2019.
Network Rail will continue to upgrade or close its highest risk crossings as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan, delivering a safer railway for passengers and those living close to the rail network.
Source:- Network Rail
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