Ross-shire level-crossing upgrade hopes dashed by Network Rail as Far North line campaigners voice 'disappointment'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Hopes of railway upgrade works which could have further improve safety at a deadly level crossing and speed up journey times have been dashed after Network Rail Scotland ruled them out.
Rail campaigners had hoped Network Rail Scotland might revisit the level crossing at Delny in Easter Ross on the Far North Line after it announced it would not be proceeding with a multimillion pound bridge at the site.
Plans for the bridge, which would have completely separated road and rail traffic and closed the existing crossing, were scrapped late last year over rising costs.
SEE ALSO:
Scrapping of railway bridge 'not a surprise' says Easter Ross councillor
Delny crossing 'was working properly' at time of latest incident
Have our Ross-shire newsletter delivered twice a week for free
But safety campaigners were hopeful that this decision might then prompt a fresh look at possible upgrades to the existing barriers at the crossing - upgrades which had been ruled out due to the imminent construction of a bridge which will now not be built.
The Friends of the Far North Line explained that the crossing – which didn't have any barriers at all until 2017 and has claimed several lives in the past – was not given a full upgrade when those safety measures were brought in.
At the time Network Rail Scotland decided not to proceed with a costlier/safer configuration after its consultants argued it would have had a "significantly adverse effect on the economic case for a possible bridge replacement, which would be the infinitely preferable solution".
But with the bridge now off the table, there were hopes that this even safer option might be reconsidered - especially after a collision between a car and train at the level crossing in November served as a "timely reminder" that the crossing is still not as safe as it could be.
Ian Budd, convener of the Friends, said: "The configuration... still required a permanent speed restriction of 55mph (better than the 35mph restriction previously in place), rather than the best alternative, which would have allowed trains to pass at the full 65 mph line speed.
He continued: "On November 24 a car was hit by a train at Delny level crossing, fortunately no-one was injured. A timely reminder.
"We hope that, now the bridge has been cancelled, the level crossing will be upgraded to allow the faster line speed, since every avenue to speed up the slow service on the Far North Line should be explored."
But responding to the Friends' calls, Network Rail Sctoland said it has no plans to make any further changes to the crossing for now.
A spokesperson said: “The upgraded Delny level crossing fully meets the operational and safety requirements for the location, line speed, traffic and level of use. As with all level crossings, it is part of an ongoing risk assessment programme.”
News that there are no plans to further upgrade the crossing have been labelled "disappointing" by Mr Budd.
He said: "We are understandably disappointed. Everything possible that can be done [should be done] to increase the speed of trains on a route with a really long journey time.
"Every little helps and it's quite a small amount of money involved. It's just disappointing."
