Network Rail: Wessex Level Crossing Upgrades 

Six obsolete level crossings require urgent renewal 

Network Rail identified six level crossings in Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Devon that needed barrier upgrades. They all featured obsolete ‘penguin’ style barriers dating from the 1960s, which were regarded as unreliable and difficult to maintain due to their age and lack of spare parts.

The six sites were Axe, Codford, Hewish, Halterworth, Woodsford No.37 and Mount Pleasant Level Crossings, five of which were Automatic Half Barrier (AHB) Crossings and one was Manually Controlled Barriers supervised by Closed-Circuit Television (MCB-CCTV). Railway engineering firm S&T Cover were brought in to deliver a barrier renewal programme, working with specialists Ramboll for Signalling design. 

Having been made aware of SYSTRA’s expertise , Ramboll appointed our Level Crossings team to design the new crossings and provide the necessary Ground Plans.

Designing safe, compliant and reliable new level crossings 

Before SYSTRA was brought into the project, the plan had been to order like-for-like boom lengths to replace the existing barriers, as a way of minimising procurement times. The intention was to re-use the existing penguin barrier foundations for the new level crossing pedestals.

However, the SYSTRA Level Crossings team quickly identified that this strategy would result in non-compliant vertical clearances between the barriers and the carriageway edge due to the differing parameters of the old and new barrier types. This meant there was an increased risk of the raised barriers being struck by high-sided road vehicles using the crossing. In addition, the new barrier pedestals would partially block footways in some instances, forcing pedestrians into the carriageway and presenting an unacceptable safety risk.

Our specialists proposed an alternative strategy for each site. We produced Level Crossing Ground Plans that satisfied the required vertical clearances and maintained usable and safe footways for the public.

Ultimately, for each site we delivered an Approved For Construction Ground Plan (with associated Design Log), a Hazard Register capturing any site-specific risks and a subsequent As-Built Ground Plan (following commissioning).

Collaboration ensures seamless project delivery

The SYSTRA Level Crossings team worked collaboratively on this project, liaising with all parties and attending weekly progress meetings with the client to ensure the programme ran smoothly.

The signalling design for the six level crossings was completed by Ramboll, while GGP Consult provided the civil engineering design for the associated foundations. Our Level Crossings team worked closely with these key partners and the end client, S&T Cover, to ensure all proposals were deliverable and could be constructed within the available railway possession windows.

To help reduce costs and time on the project, we produced direct Approved For Construction Ground Plans, removing the need for an Approval in Principle phase.

Modern level crossings designed for long-life performance

These six level crossings that have been provided with modern barriers will improve the reliability and maintainability of the assets, and therefore extend their lifespan.

All six of the level crossings were constructed and commissioned within the project timescales. At each site, they have created a more reliable railway and improved safety for members of the public and road users.

A more reliable railway means fewer train delays and level crossing closures due to equipment failures. The level crossings are safer because they are designed to the appropriate clearances, providing unobstructed carriageways and footways.