Rail workers have stepped up their efforts to warn the public about high incidence of “dangerous behaviour” at a busy level crossing.
Network Rail staff have put up a sign reporting 787 dangerous incidents in the past 18 days alone at the Cotton Mill Lane railway crossing in St Albans.
The rail network put up an additional “code of conduct” sign warning pedestrians and cyclists alike to remove their headphones before crossing, and to never “just assume” it is safe to cross.
Network Rail members have been on hand since February 26 distributing leaflets to the public and giving information on how to cross the line safely.
Cotton Mill Lane is a very well used pedestrian crossing of the St Albans to Watford branch line, with approximately 1,000 cyclists and pedestrians using it every day. Network Rail considers it one of the “highest risk” crossings.
During a nine-day monitoring exercise in early 2017, four near misses were recorded and a terrifying 300 incidents of deliberate misuse. That figure has risen this year despite Network Rails best efforts to warn people.
Safety measures taken by Network Rail and the council in the past have included moving the whistleboards – which prompt the train drivers to sound the horn as a warning – closer to the crossing, and making improvements to the crossing surface.
Retiree and keen cycling activist, Peter Wares, who lives close to the crossing said: “The crossing is a right of way path and also part of St Alban’s Green Ring. British Rail seem to be very concerned about people misusing the crossing. It needs to be highlighted that this is a concern.”
To find out how to stay safe when using a level crossing, visit networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings
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