Smmer Road, Thames Ditton Level Crossing Operation

The request was successful.

Dear Network Rail Limited,

Normally the sequence for the level crossing is as described in your Information request response Reference number: FOI2019/01168. However my wife has on two occasions been frightened by the Summer Road, Thames Ditton level crossing barriers closing before they have finished opening and this without any prior visual or audible warning. This give insufficient time for a pedestrian to cross especially if they are walking across the track towards the barrier which closes first.
1. Issues for a slow and or deaf pedestrian
Your reference response gives an event sequence for closure which matches what can be seen in operation at the crossing; there is audible and visual prior warning of closure and adequate time for a car to get across if it is already on the crossing at the time of the warning. To help ensure this the left hand barrier boom closes 6-9 seconds before the right so that if a car has squeezed under the left hand barrier then it has time to get across before the opposite boom closes.
A pedestrian walking in the opposite direction to the car is not so lucky. A pedestrian (possibly with a pushchair or pushing a wheelchair) already on the crossing and moving much slower than a car has to walk towards the first closing barrier which starts to close only 8 seconds after the audible and visual warning starts. The warning lights are designed to be seen by cars from a distance and are not visible to a pedestrian standing next to the barrier. A deaf person close to the barriers would not see or hear any warning and would only know of barrier closure when it comes into sight.
Please provide the safety case review which determined that the design is acceptable in such an event.
2. Issues when barrier lowering starts before being fully raised
Attached is a highlighted version of your July 2019 record of closing and opening events. This shows that on 15 July 2019 at 10:22 the barriers started to lower before they had fully raised. This happens with no audible or visual warning and results in danger even for an able bodied pedestrian. Typically pedestrians start walking as soon as the barrier clears their head and immediately afterwards it could start lowering giving no prior warning and no time to get out prior to the opposite barrier closing. While there is room for a single person to stand inside the barriers and not be hit by a train someone with a pushchair or wheel chair does not have room, will be immediately confused and possibly get stuck.
Please provide the safety case review which determined that the design is acceptable without an interlock to inhibit the lowering sequence initialising before confirmation that the barriers are fully raised.
3. Lowering sequence failed/stopped
The attached highlighted version of your July 2019 record of closing and opening events shows a number of instances of the lowering sequence not starting following the Signaller pressing the crossing lower button.
Please provide the review and correction record of this failure and advise as to whether you consider this to be a safety issue.
4. Lowering stopped
The attached highlighted version of your July 2019 record of closing and opening events shows that on 21July2019 at 12:30 the barriers started to lower but were then raised before they had reached the down position.
Please advise the reason for this and advise as to whether you consider this to be a safety issue.

The listed attachment has been sent directly to [email address] .

Yours faithfully,

Mike Wilson

FOI, Network Rail Limited

Reference number: FOI2019/01374

Dear Mr Wilson

Information request

Your correspondence was received by Network Rail on 21 November 2019. I can confirm that your request is being processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) / Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). I will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible and in any event by 20 December 2019.

On occasion we may need to consult with third parties about requests, in line with the recommendations in the Code of Practice issued by the Cabinet Office.

If you have any queries please contact me.

Please remember to quote your reference number in all future communications.

Kind regards

Najea Begum | Information Officer
Freedom of Information | Legal & Corporate Services

Network Rail | 1st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN
Telephone: 01908 782405 |
Email: [Network Rail request email]
Web: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

Diversity and Inclusion Champion            

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FOI, Network Rail Limited

1 Attachment

Reference number: FOI2019/01374

Dear Mr Wilson

Please find attached our response to your Freedom of Information request.

I will provide the contact details of my colleague to your email address.

If you have any queries please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Najea Begum | Information Officer
Freedom of Information | Legal & Corporate Services

Network Rail | 1st Floor | Willen Building | The Quadrant: MK
Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN
Telephone: 01908 782405 |
Email: [Network Rail request email]
Web: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/foi/

Diversity and Inclusion Champion            

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