Public Rights of Way Report - Chiltern Evergreen3

4.19 Network Rail, as the operator of the country’s rail infrastructure has providedclear advice on the safety risk from at-grade rail crossings. In the publicationOur Approach to Managing Level Crossing Safety, Network Rail states thatthe “most effective way of reducing level crossing risk is to eliminate the crossingcompletely”. It recognises that closure of a public footpath or bridleway levelcrossing “may result in a requirement to provide an alternative route either in theform of a bridge over the railway, an underpass beneath the railway or through theprovision of a diversionary route to a nearby bridge, underpass or level crossing”.4.20 Network Rail guidance recognises that it can be difficult in some cases tomake a clear case for closure and/or diversion of a rail crossing based onsafety risk alone and that other factors must also be considered such asoperation or maintenance costs, operational performance and funding.“Management judgement also forms a key part of the decision process whenqualitatively the risk warrants something to be done but the case for closure and/ordiversion is not necessarily clear cut”. Chiltern Railways has exercised thatjudgement in the consideration of suitable alternatives to the at-gradecrossings and the development of a preferred solution for each of the crossingpoints. These national polices to reduce, and preferably eliminate, levelcrossing risk have formed the basis for Chiltern Railways’ proposals for theBicester to Oxford line.CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES4.21 The consideration of rail crossing alternatives has been an iterative processwhich took as its starting point a safety case which assumed that no at-gradecrossings would remain. Despite Chiltern Railways’ and Network Rail’sdesire to close all at-grade crossings, the London Road crossing in Bicester willremain open. Given the constraints at this location it has not been possible todesign a suitable bridge alternative. Instead the level crossing will beimproved to ensure it reaches required safety standards and minimises theclosure time for road users.4.22 At an early stage in the process a number of criteria were established in orderto prioritise the locations where replacement crossings should be providedand where diversions would be more appropriate. Consideration was givento the:• extent to which it provided a safe crossing;• level of usage and types of users;ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT16CHILTERN RAILWAYS