Ufton Nervet bridge replacement

[AN106]

A Network rail statement about the possible replacement of Ufton Nervet AHB with a bridge can be found here.

[Mike Hodgson]

This sounds like a PR inspired case of bolting the stable door.

Is there any real reason to suppose this particular crossing is more likely to have a future accident than many others similar to it? Past performance is not necessarily an indicator for the future as the financial services industry keeps on repeating monotonously under their regulatory requirements. Doesn't the same principle apply to the accident statistics at particular locations?




Edited by admin

[Peter Gibbons]

Perhaps not, but Network Rail has stated that it wants to close as many level crossings as is possible, particularly those on lines with where high speeds are involved.

[edwin_m]

Ufton crossing is just by the end of some loops - I think the accident report considered that the presence of facing points contributed to the severity of the major accident there, and they probably also mean the crossing is more complicated and costly to renew than most. There has also been at least one other fatality there since the major accident. As it is in a rural are with no buildings nearby a bridge is also relatively easy to provide, so this crossing is likely to be one of the more cost-effective ones for replacement.