Possibly the way they planned it: try and sneek it through, if not, backtrack and do it properlySurprised not to see an update to this thread: Network Rail has apologised for the way they've handled this and the permanent closure is postponed pending a review.
Yes, that's what I found a few days ago when I used the crossing.On the way back from catching a shot of the Class 230 at Bletchley I also found time to nip over to Westcombe park to actually check this curiosity out. It's pretty well used.
Two on the Romford - Upminster branch
Possibly the way they planned it: try and sneek it through, if not, backtrack and do it properly
Alternatively, someone designed their splendid new signalling arrangements without giving much thought to anything or anyone else. Silo mentality. Having done that, the foot crossing happened to be in the way of the new arrangments, and it was assumed that it could simply be closed using the good old-fashioned 'safety' excuse but without any evidential back-up. Sufficient people, of sufficient 'stakeholder' importance waded in. Immovable object meets irresistable force.Surprised not to see an update to this thread: Network Rail has apologised for the way they've handled this and the permanent closure is postponed pending a review.
15 SEP 2021 —
This morning we received the following excellent news from our MP Matthew Pennycook:
Good morning all,
I have just concluded a (remote) meeting with John Halsall, Network Rail’s Managing Director (Southern Region), and I’m very pleased to inform you that the planned closure of the Angerstein crossing has now been cancelled.
It would appear that, as a result of the collective pressure we exerted, an independent review was commissioned by Network Rail which concluded that there are sufficient grounds in this case to disapply the national algorithm that the organisation uses to determine safety risk at individual crossings.
As such, Network Rail are content to treat Angerstein as an exception to their general policy vis-à-vis such crossing closures.
Claims that the crossing was extremely dangerous fell apart under scrutiny. They had claimed “many incidents where drivers of trains had to apply their emergency brakes to avoid people on the track” yet a Freedom of Information request showed one incident of that happening over the past three years.
Quite!Absolute joke it was ever proposed for closure and NRs obsession with closing footpaths on low risk lines is plainly wasteful in time, resources and money.
Absolute joke it was ever proposed for closure and NRs obsession with closing footpaths on low risk lines is plainly wasteful in time, resources and money.