Automatic Half-Barrier Crossings (Hansard, 13 November 1968)

§ Mr. Marsh

Immediate action was taken after the Hixon accident to ensure that the responsibility for seeing that it is safe to cross a railway line at an automatic half-barrier with a special load is clearly understood. All orders for special loads carried by road have since then contained a condition that drivers or attendants with such loads must telephone the signalman for permission to cross at an automatic half-barrier, and automatic crossings are specifically mentioned in routes prescribed for such loads.

Physical measures to be taken at these crossings fall into two categories:

(i) on the crossing installation;

(ii) on the road over the crossing.

So far as the crossing installations are concerned, priority is being given to extending the "second train" time cycle and this particular modification has already been carried out at 23 crossings. Amendment Orders have been issued requiring the same modification at a further 13 sites by 30th November. Work on other sites is progressing and it is expected that over half the automatic half-barrier crossings in the country will have been converted to the new "second train" cycle by the middle of 1969.

Another aspect of work on the installation is the extension of the barrier operating time cycle before the arrival of the fastest train on the crossing. The Railways Board's engineers, in consultation with my technical officers, have made 115W considerable progress in devising the amended circuitry necessary for this. I hope that these modifications will be made at all but the most complex installations before the end of 1969.

As for the road works, highway authorities have been asked to give immediate effect to the recommendations relating to road markings, including the provision of double white lines and yellow box markings. Road level profiles have been examined and "uneven crossing" signs are being erected where necessary pending the urgent improvement of any profile found to be below the standard referred to in the Report of the Hixon Inquiry. I hope that these markings and signs will be in position by the end of this year.

Other aspects of the physical changes recommended in the Hixon Report are being considered by the design consultant whom I appointed to look into the design and presentation of automatic crossings. He is making good progress, and work will begin shortly on the new signs and the advance amber warning signal as soon as the definitive design has been established.

A programme for the further conversion of crossings to automatic working is currently under consideration with the Railways Board.

I have decided that there is no need for immediate Government legislation on the 116W recommendations of the Report, as existing powers are adequate; but the Railways Board will be seeking in their next Bill, shortly to be presented to Parliament, to make it an offence to misuse the telephone provided at automatic crossings.

Publicity about automatic half-barriers and the behaviour of road users at them will continue, at both national and local level, at every available opportunity.