Network Rail has announced that a level crossing in North Yorkshire is the first to benefit from two safety measures being linked together.

The level crossing at Jacky Duffin Wood, in Carton, North Yorkshire is user-operated and has up to 60 freight trains a day, traveling at up to 55mph.

The £30,000 investment has linked the user worked vehicle gates with miniature stop lights. This means that the gate will only open when there are no trains approaching the crossing. If a red light is displayed when the user presses the button, the gates will not open.

The power-operated gate was designed and installed by Network Rail to replace obsolete rural barriers. It took around 6 months to design and test the new system, with Network Rail working alongside the Office for Road and Rail.

New signage has been also installed at the level crossing, to make things more visible and easier to understand for road users and pedestrians.

What did the officials say?

Andrew Murray, Engineering and Asset Management Director, Eastern Region, for Network Rail, said:

“Network Rail’s main priority is safety, and this technology helps to cross only when it is safe to do so.

“Network Rail installed and commissioned the work at Jacky Duffin Wood crossing in August, and the benefits of the upgrade can already be seen.

“Network Rail is always looking for innovative ways to improve the railway, and the equipment could be linked at other level crossings to make them safer.”

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