Shakespeare may not have written ‘to cross or not to cross’, but it is something that should go through the mind of anyone when approaching a level crossing.

However, with regular reports about collisions and near misses at level crossings, despite the barriers and lights warning of on-coming trains, it appears many people do not realise the full dangers of ignoring these alerts.

In the month of June 2013, ten people were killed at level crossings in Britain. Since 2010, Network Rail has embarked on a major initiative to close as many level crossings as they can across the country. The target was to close some 750 crossings by April 2014, and this target was achieved with the closing of a crossing on the east coast line in Cambridge in January 2014.

In an effort to continue the momentum, the Office of Rail Regulation has announced further funding to close or improve rail crossings across Britain with a £100m being allocated. The target is to close a further 500 level crossings over a 5 year period in a bid to reduce the risk at crossings across Britain by 25%.

To achieve this, Network Rail has assessed the crossings they wish to close and has ranked these in order of priority, depending on their current level of risk. The types of crossings are varied and Luke Telford of Strutt & Parker’s Cambridge office stresses that people must not presume that the closures are principally aimed at major crossings: “Network Rail are mandated to look at all crossing types, not just gated or barrier crossings but also footpath crossings and crossings that are operated by the user, it is the level of risk that is key, not the amount of use”.

In fact, a member of Network Rail has stated that “the majority of crossings that have been closed are on private land and largely used by landowners, farmers or delivery utility vehicles that run across a main line railway”.

Mr Telford adds; “Any form of crossing will be considered and if anyone has a crossing, or is not sure whether they have a crossing that would be considered, they should contact Strutt & Parker as there is funding to acquire the access and the payments can be significant.”

For more information or advice, please contact Luke Telford in Strutt & Parker’s Cambridge Office on 01223 4599493.