TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
While not the most reliable of sources, Wikipedia says on an article about Level Crossings in the UK that there is now a ban on building any more.
Surely this is not always practical? A bridge requires the road to be raised significantly; a tunnel requires digging under the railway. Say a new line is built, how else does it cross an important road if said raising or lowering of the road is not feasible for a respective bridge or tunnel there?
Are crossings deemed too unsafe now, even those with full barriers and CCTV? The amount of misuse is admittedly shocking, but could surely be reduced significantly with increased penalties and sanctions, and better protection such as more full length barriers, CCTV, louder alarms, better signage, etc.
Also, are full length barriers always better than half ones? With half ones only blocking the entrance, you can escape should you find yourself on the crossing when the barriers lower - whereas a full one will trap. Yes, the risk of being trapped might deter people from chancing it - but inevitably some stupid people will always chance it, and I’d rather them escape and then face the slap on the wrist than die for the crime.
Surely this is not always practical? A bridge requires the road to be raised significantly; a tunnel requires digging under the railway. Say a new line is built, how else does it cross an important road if said raising or lowering of the road is not feasible for a respective bridge or tunnel there?
Are crossings deemed too unsafe now, even those with full barriers and CCTV? The amount of misuse is admittedly shocking, but could surely be reduced significantly with increased penalties and sanctions, and better protection such as more full length barriers, CCTV, louder alarms, better signage, etc.
Also, are full length barriers always better than half ones? With half ones only blocking the entrance, you can escape should you find yourself on the crossing when the barriers lower - whereas a full one will trap. Yes, the risk of being trapped might deter people from chancing it - but inevitably some stupid people will always chance it, and I’d rather them escape and then face the slap on the wrist than die for the crime.