Van Incident at Level Crossing Results in £20,000 Damage and Days of Repairs

A level crossing sustained £20,000 in damage and will require several days for repairs after a van attempted to bypass it. Following the incident at Grasslot in Maryport, Cumbria, Network Rail issued a caution that attempting to cross railway tracks while barriers are down carries a potentially fatal risk. Rail services continue to operate along this section of the Cumbrian coastline, with local residents reporting that trains are sounding their horns to alert vehicles and pedestrians approaching the crossing. Network Rail stated that a traffic light system is also in place to signal approaching trains, and extra personnel have been deployed to the site to “help people safely over the railway.” The company reported discovering the barrier “strewn across the road” on Friday, subsequent to the van’s passage through the crossing. Wendy Potter, the firm’s operations manager for Cumbria, commented: “You can’t beat the barrier. “Please, if the barriers are down and the red light is showing, do not attempt to cross the tracks.”