Commenting on Reports Broughty Ferry Level Crossing has Highest Number of Recorded Offences

Picture copyright Dundee Courier
Click on image to enlarge

I am alarmed to hear that statistics revealed by British Transport Police show that the Broughty Ferry Level Crossing has the highest number of recorded offences in Scotland. I understand that most of these offences have arisen because drivers and pedestrians have been ignoring the flashing warning lights and dodging the barriers at the Gray Street Level Crossing. This is reckless and endangers life and limb of the pedestrians and drivers involved and of course rail passengers, railway staff as well as other road users.

British Transport Police have increased their number of mobile vans with CCTV and I have previously welcomed their more intensive surveillance of our level crossing.  I had hoped that that more visits by the mobile monitoring units would eventually ensure more compliance with the Highway Code and safety first.

In the interests of health and safety at the level crossing I support zero tolerance of the kinds of incidents that have been recorded of folk trying to 'beat the crossing barriers' as they fall.

I am concerned that continuing irresponsible and careless behaviour by drivers and pedestrians may lead Network Rail to apply to close the level crossing. What might solve their concerns would have serious consequences for the future of central Broughty Ferry. Bearing in mind that all the other entry points to our central area are over bridges or under the railway at St Vincent Street, if the level crossing were closed it would be more difficult to drive into and out of our shopping centre. As a result, trading conditions for shops and services might become even more challenging.

So I hope that reckless drivers and pedestrians should take heed of the warnings from British Transport Police about the dangers of trying to beat the barrier. This is not only for the sake of their own safety and others whose life and limb is put at risk but also for retaining the historic public access over the railway at the level crossing.

Overnight Closure of Gray Street Level Crossing From 11pm Sat 18 - 9am Sunday 19 May

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that:

traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Network Rail inspection works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Gray Street (from Queen Street to Brook Street), Broughty Ferry.

This notice comes into effect on Saturday 18 May 2013 at 11pm until Sunday 19 May at 9am.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Brook Street / St Vincent Street / Queen Street.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

 

Mike P Galloway

Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

Call for More Frequent Visits to Broughty Ferry Level Crossing by British Transport Police Camera Enforcement Van

Network Rail and British Transport Police have recently increased their number of mobile vans with CCTV. I hope this means that we an expect more of their visits to the Gray Street level crossing in Broughty Ferry. This should be good for our community in two ways.

Primarily, I am very concerned to hear continuing reports of drivers and pedestrians ignoring the flashing warning lights and dodging the barriers at the Level Crossing. This is reckless and endangers life and limb. I therefore hope that more visits by the mobile monitoring units will ensure more compliance with the Highway Code and safety first.

Secondly, I am concerned that if there is a serious incident at the crossing, Network Rail might use that tragedy as a pretext to close the level crossing. But what might solve their safety problems would have serious consequences for the future of central Broughty Ferry. Bearing in mind that all the other entry points to our central area are over bridges or under the railway at St Vincent Street, if the level crossing were closed it would be more difficult to drive into and out of our shopping centre. As a result, trading conditions for shops and services might become even more challenging.

So I hope that reckless drivers and pedestrians should take heed of the warnings from British Transport Police about the dangers of trying to beat the barrier. This is not only for the sake of their own safety but also for retaining the historic public access over the railway at the level crossing.

I have written to British Transport Police to invite them to make more unannounced visits to Gray Street.

Railtrack Warning Should be Taken to Heart in Broughty Ferry

This is Railtrack's TV advert which aims to persuade people that they need to be as careful crossing railway tracks as they would be on a busy road.

Railtrack have recently spent £130 million to improve safety at crossings. They warn that 46 people have been killed on railway crossings in the past five years.

In the Ferry we have two level crossings. The one at Gray Street is for vehicles and pedestrians and has automatic barriers and warning lights and sounds. There is also the added safety feature of the pedestrian underpass. Despite all these safety features, this has not been without incident with drivers and pedestrians trying to beat the closing barriers and British Transport Police having to monitor the crossing.

Perhaps less well known is the level crossing at Grassy Beach which is much more like the crossing featured in the TV advert. There are no warning bells nor barriers just warning signs, and gates with a simple catch. Usually train drivers sound a warning as they approach but trains not due to stop in The Ferry can flash by at speeds up to 100 mph.

I therefore hope folk who use this crossing take note of the advert's important and sombre message.

Broughty Station Improvements - New Access to Down Platform Open

The new access to the 'down' Platform (for trains to Dundee) at Broughty Ferry Station was opened recently. This replaces the previous historic access, which will now form part of the restaurant premises under conversion adjacent to the station platform.


While this development is welcomed, I hope the link between the pavement on the roadside and the new pathway to the platform will be improved. The new tarmac infill (see picture) and the differences in levels are a bit like a hole on a crazy golf course. I hope this is a temporary job and a more elegant design solution will be engineered. This should meet the new access standards for people with mobility difficulties as well as look more pleasing.

I have written to the City Engineer to demand a better solution to the connection between the pavement (City Council's responsibility) and the Platform (Scotrail's responsibility).

Improvements to the Pedestrian Underpass at the Gray Street Level Crossing

The temporary closure of the pedestrian underpass at the Gray Street railway crossing in Broughty Ferry began on Monday 9 Jan 2012. 


While this three week closure has been arranged to allow Network Rail to build a new entry point to the down platform for trains towards Dundee, there will also be a bonus for users of the underpass. 

The City Engineer has confirmed that he has arranged what will amount to more than a superficial makeover of the underpass while it is closed.

Following complaints by the Community Council and elected members like me, the City Engineer has confirmed on Saturday that after the building works by Network Rail, he has arranged for a deep clean of all surfaces in the underpass. New roof lighting will also be installed throughout the tunnel. Across the bottom of the tunnel there will be a new full width steel plate walkway. The existing handrails will also be painted. Thereafter it is hoped that a regular clean up of the surfaces in the underpass will undertaken by offenders through the Community Payback scheme. 

I think these are all worthwhile improvements, which residents and visitors will appreciate. I hope this will increase public safety at the level crossing by making the pedestrian underpass more user friendly. Hopefully these improvements will put an end to the underpass as a smelly, ill light and grubby place to be avoided.