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Office of Rail
Regulation report on level crossings
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Letter to Wokingham Times, published on
26th November 2008:
Dear Sir,
The plan to run two Airtrack trains per hour between Reading, Wokingham,
Bracknell and Heathrow’s Terminal 5 is to be welcomed. However, I disagree with
the conclusion printed in the Airtrack Consultation Document that it is not
feasible or justifiable to replace the Barkham Road level crossing with a
bridge. The report states that this crossing already experiences congestion, and
that it will be significantly affected by the decrease in the time the barriers
are open. All the more reason, surely, to explore alternatives?
Network Rail is already planning to lengthen the platforms at Wokingham to
accommodate 12-coach trains. It has also published a document on level crossing
policy, stating that Network Rail is "committed to reducing the risk at level
crossings where reasonably practicable". NR says that it seeks "to close and/or
divert crossings or enhance their safety through the provision of improved
safety features/equipment".
The Barkham Road crossing will experience both an increase in the number of
trains from Airtrack and an increase from the 3,500 houses planned to be built
on Arborfield Garrison. This is trying to fit a quart into a pint pot.
There is a viable alternative to the level crossing – a bridge to the north of
the station from Oxford Road, emerging at Reading Road on land already owned by
the Council. This will allow the station platforms to be extended further
southwards, closer to the town centre. The historic footbridge can be re-sited
to eliminate the dangerous footpath across the electrified railway from
Wellington Road.
Let’s grab this opportunity to eliminate the risk of pedestrian and car
accidents, to reduce delays and conflicts at Wellington Road and to get
Wokingham’s traffic moving more smoothly. You can download all of the Airtrack
and Network Rail documents from the Internet. The deadline for the Airtrack
consultation is 15th December. Please make your voice heard!
Yours faithfully,
Steve Bacon
45 Melrose Gardens
Arborfield
Berkshire
RG2 9PY.
(Click on the links for the
Airtrack Consultation Document and
the Heathrow Airtrack site
itself)
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