§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Minister of Transport what has been the safety 350W record of open railway-road crossings in the British Isles over the past five years; how many crossings of this kind there are in Wales; and what level of traffic flow is regarded as too great for the introduction of such a crossing.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI assume that the hon. Member refers to the type of crossing known as an automatic open crossing locally monitored by train drivers (AOCL). These crossings have steady amber and twin flashing red road traffic signals which give warning of an approach of a train. There are some 95 such crossings in the country as a whole, 20 of which are in Wales. There is also a number of open crossings in Wales on little used lines and minor roads with no form of protection other than road signs and markings.
The safety record of AOCLs is extremely good and there have only been two minor accidents at them in the last five years. In one a lorry driver ignored the traffic signals and struck the side of a slowly moving freight train and in the other a youth on a motor cycle also ignored the lights and was struck and injured by a slowly moving passenger train.
AOCLs are suitable for roads carrying any level of road traffic and several have been installed on the busiest main roads; an example is that at Ford's crossing on the A48(T) near Brigend.