Ironically, though, the meeting involving rail operator Network Rail and representatives of Highland Council, which is the roads authority, had been arranged before last Friday’s Delny crossing tragedy, which has resulted in the deaths of local lads Paul Oliver and Alan Thain.

The two 17-year-olds were passengers in the car driven by Richard Fleming, also 17, when it collided with a northbound train at the barrier-free level crossing.

Richard remains ‘comfortable’ at Raigmore Hospital.

Local opinion across the spectrum is now over-whelmingly behind a radical safety review at several Ross-shire crossings. It emerged Network Rail and Highland Council will look at all possible options to improve safety at Delny — while the rail operator has promised to revisit concerns about safety at crossings in Dingwall, which has three barrier-free crossings where only flashing lights warn road users of oncoming trains.

The whole safety issue was thrust back into the spotlight at the beginning of January when a woman had a narrow escape after her car was struck by a train on the Kyle line close to Dingwall Academy.

Ironically, too, grim warnings were issued then that it would take a death to force action on the long-standing issue.

Welcoming this week’s assurance from Network Rail that it would probe safety at Delny, local councillor and Ross and Cromarty area convener Carolyn Wilson said, “I’ve never been happy using this crossing. You are talking about high-speed trains crossing what is a country road where people drive up to 60mph. And nearby there’s a growing retirement settlement. A barrier absolutely is needed. You can’t get away from the fact you have a railway line crossing a road. You can talk about risk assessments but if one person in one car is in danger, you have an issue and action needs to be taken.”

Dingwall South councillor Margaret Paterson, a persistent campaigner for the introduction of barriers to level crossings in the town, welcomed the safety assessment pledge which, in Dingwall, will take account of a new link road and the Academy development.

Tain East councillor Alan Torrance, who himself uses the Delny crossing up to three times a week, said, “This was a tragedy at a bad crossing affected by a low sun in winter. Being forced to stop is the only way to deal with this. This should never happen. In a community like this, it affects everybody.”

He believes barriers incorporating flashing lights should be installed at Delny.

Seaboard councillor Richard Durham, who also attended this week’s meeting with Network Rail, said it is clear “there’s a major questionmark over safety arrangements”. He believes barriers, plus flashing lights 100 metres ahead of the rail track, should be introduced.

Ross-based MSP Maureen Macmillan, who has tabled a motion at the Scottish Parliament, is urging the Scottish Executive to consider how safety can be improved. “We now have had too many collisions and incidents at barrier-less crossings and I only last week raised the issue of the lack of admin support for cameras at the Dingwall crossing, which has led to a drop in the number of offenders detected jumping the crossings.

“What cannot be disputed is there is a serious problem here. I feel the time is long overdue for an in-depth investigation of the operation of barrier-less rail crossings in the North.” Installing rumble strips was an immediate option along with installation of barriers on crossings with a record of incidents.

Mrs Macmillan has also flagged up the issue, first raised by the Ross-shire Journal, of whether or not the British Transport Police are able to sufficiently monitor CCTV cameras at level crossings such as those in Dingwall. That follows concerns about a sharp drop in the number of prosecutions coming to court after a Network Rail-funded camera enforcement team was scrapped at the end of March 2005.

Easter Ross MSP Jamie Stone, who was yesterday (Thursday) due to quiz First Minister Jack McConnell on the issue as we went to press, said, “Representations from constituents echo my view that the Delny crossing does not inspire confidence among users. We should ensure that every safety measure — more lights further back and barriers — are in place to ensure that there is no repeat of last week’s tragic accident.”

Ross-based MSP Rob Gibson said he had spoken to Network Rail officials at the scene as they completed the distressing job of clearing up the wreckage. He believes new warning lights 50 metres before lines are one way forward, and has pledged to investigate further.

Highlands and Islands Tory MSP Dave Petrie called for an immediate review of all level crossings controlled by safety warning lights only. “Such a measure would create a physical obstruction and also deter impatient motorists from taking a chance.”

Maxine Smith, chair of Invergordon Business Association and a prospective councillor for the new Cromarty Firth ward, described the crossing as “a perpetual hazard”, and said that “endless risk assessments mean nothing when you are an inexperienced driver and the rules say cross if no red light is on”. She called for warning signals to be placed several metres back from the railway and barriers and stop signs. “Network Rail should be consulting with locals when they do their so-called risk assessment and not just ticking off boxes. As a mother, my thoughts are with the parents of those boys. Nothing will turn back time so all that can be done is to ensure this never happens again — which means we have to take action now, not years in the future.”

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said, “We will carry out a thorough investigation to see if there’s anything that can now be done to reduce the chances of level-crossing misuse.”

The Ross-shire Journal again quizzed British Transport Police over concerns now being raised by MSP Maureen Macmillan about a lack of monitoring of CCTV cameras at level crossings in Dingwall.

Asked if BTP had any plans to change monitoring practices, a spokesman would only say, “British Transport Police works closely with Network Rail to ensure the safety of all passengers and road users.”

editor@rsjournal.co.uk

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