Heritage Railway Issues Reminder on Crossing Safety

The North Norfolk Railway has reminded walkers, cyclists and motorists to stop when the warning lights show at the Sweet Briar Lane level crossing near Sheringham golf course, after the heritage line’s train drivers reported a number of users “jumping the lights” in recent weeks.

New signage to reinforce the safety message has been installed at the crossing ahead of the line’s main season which commences on Friday 29 March with historic steam trains and heritage diesels running most days until October.

The railway’s management is keen that all road users respect the automatic signals at the crossing: Interim General Manager, Graham Hukins, explained “Crossing the railway isn’t like crossing a road – the total weight of an engine and five carriages is around 250 tons which means they take a little while to stop. So when the warning lights flash, it is vital that motorists and walkers alike stop and wait for the train to pass.

He added, “The warning sequence is automated to minimise the disruption to road users while ensuring traffic is clear of the crossing as trains approach – generally traffic is stopped for less than two minutes. We have been concerned by reports from our train drivers that pedestrians have crossed in front of their train after the crossing has been activated and red lights are showing. Additional signage to remind the public that the lights apply to all users has been installed and we would ask that users do not put themselves in danger for the sake of a few seconds.”

The North Norfolk Railway operates steam and heritage diesel trains along 5½ miles of restored track from Sheringham to Weybourne and Holt. The line is one of the county’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming around 165,000 passengers per annum. Steam trains run between April and October – see www.nnrailway.co.uk for timetables, fares and to book.

ENDS

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