Rail bosses accused of delaying new barrier work
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NETWORK Rail has admitted Halkirk’s Bridge Street level crossing is not safe for motorists after negotiating a second out-of-court settlement, according to a prominent campaigner for safety improvements at the site of a triple tragedy in 2009.
Former Caithness Highland Councillor David Flear said that the payouts highlight why Halkirk should have been the first to benefit from the recent decision to invest £4 million in installing safety barriers at 20 crossings throughout the Highlands.
His reaction came after it was announced earlier this week that Network Rail reached a settlement with Donald Mackay, whose parents and uncle were killled after the couple’s car collided with a train on the Bridge Street crossing three years ago. The amount has not been disclosed but is believed to be tens of thousands of pounds.
Angus and Margaret Mackay both (81), from Inverness, along with Angus’s brother Donald Mackay (66), a resident of Forse House care home in Latheron, all died at the scene.
Seven years previously, Sarah Jappy, from Reay, suffered life-threatening injuries when her car collided with a train at the same crossing in October 2002. Her compensation claim was settled out of court by Network Rail for an undisclosed sum.
Mr Flear yesterday said the out-of-court payouts indicates that Network Rail admit there is a problem at the crossing and he believes barriers should already be in place there.
"They’ve already reached out-of-court settlements which in my opinion means they have found fault with the level crossing at Halkirk and yet it is still open to the public," he said.
"Installing barriers at Halkirk should have been its first priority when they agreed to implementing safety barriers across the Highlands," said Mr Flear, who lives in Halkirk.
"The payouts are their way of saying they’ve accepted the crossing is dangerous and that it requires remedial work to make it safe. They’ve already done the testing for the new barriers last year and yet they have not been installed and I want to know why."
Mr Flear adds: "In the meantime, these crossings are still being used by motorists every day, waiting for another accident to happen.
"The barriers should have been put up a long time ago and Network Rail needs to tell the public why we are having to wait all this time for them to be installed."
In January, Network Rail began work to install the first of the barriers at Corpach, near Caol in Lochaber with similar work going ahead at crossings near Brora and Golspie.
Network Rail spokesman Nick King confirmed yesterday that Halkirk is in line to receive standard barriers which should be in place by 2014.
"It is our intention to fit the new ‘mini-barriers’ system to the majority of open crossings in the Highlands between now and 2014, but not to all crossings as at some locations we have alternative plans," he said.
"At Halkirk, we will be installing a traditional half-barrier system, while at Dingwall we are looking at full-barriers for two of the crossings.
"We are also seeking closure of the Delny and Dalcross crossings."
He added: "The programme of works for the roll-out of the new barriers is being finalised, but the first in the Highlands was installed in January and we will begin work at several more sites shortly.
"The new system will give drivers an additional visual aid when approaching an open crossing.
"It is essentially about further enhancing safety as in the past we have had incidents at open crossings where drivers have claimed not to have seen the lights."
Network Rail would only state that it had agreed an out-of-court settlement with Mr Mackay.
