City rail barriers could be down for 40 minutes in every hour by 2013
RAIL barriers in Lincoln's city centre could be down for 40 minutes in every hour by 2013, highways bosses have warned.
Officials at Lincolnshire County Council are predicting increased rail freight over the next three years could see longer waits for pedestrians at the High Street and Brayford Wharf East crossings.
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But they stress 40 minutes in the hour is a worst-case scenario.
The authority hopes work will begin on the proposed £20m east-west link road in the next three years – sparing motorists from further delays in the High Street.
Divisional highways manager Alan Aistrup said: "We are very concerned about the impacts these proposals would have on pedestrians, motorists and the economy.
"For over a year now, we have been in negotiation with Network Rail about the proposed diversion of rail freight through Lincolnshire, which we understand is likely to commence in late 2013.
An Echo survey last year revealed the barriers were down on average for 15 minutes of every hour between 9am and 5pm.
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by Peter, Lincoln
Monday, August 30 2010, 9:07PM
“Steve,
Be positive. Let the footbridge take up the middle third between buildings, with the remaining thirds each side for deliveries and emergency access. Enough space for everything then.”
by Julian, Slovenia
Saturday, August 28 2010, 4:45PM
“If you don't like waiting up to 40 minutes out of every hour in front of the level crossing barriers why not reintroduce horse racing into Lincoln and use the crossing in a National Hunt event?
The problem is not one of cars, trains, pedestrians or bridges. Here in Slovenia we can walk out in front of cars and trains whenever we like without all this health and safety nonsense.
This ban on horseracing over level crossing barriers is just another example of constant government interference in our liberties.
Instead of compulsory waiting - for so-called safety reasons - a simple Park And Ride warning sign disclaiming responsibility by Network Rail is all that is needed.
If shop owners adjacent to the crossing see a drop in sales they should adapt to market conditions.
Cash Converters already has facilities suitable for a betting shop. The
bed shop could become a place where animals could get their oats.
The Arriva Chase would also bring benefits to local knacker's yards, helping to restore the disastrous smell deficiency currently being experienced following the fire in Skellingthorpe.
Unlike the Carholme Road proposal, horseracing in the High Street will actually solve traffic problems, and with enough business sponsorship the Danwood Hurdle could in time make
Lincoln the post-it note capital of the world.”
by Steve, Lincoln
Saturday, August 28 2010, 2:17PM
“Peter, the problem of closing off of this piece of High Street is that there still has to be vehicular access for deliveries etc and emergency vehicles, so the ramped footbridge still wouldn't fit.”
by Chris, Lincoln Expat
Saturday, August 28 2010, 1:51PM
“I stand corrected. Just found some old Lincoln Railway photos in the loft. One in July 1990 has the footbridge in it, and one in April 1991 does not.”
by Peter, Lincoln
Saturday, August 28 2010, 12:33PM
“It seems as if Network Rail is able to do what it wants. Is it though, able to permanently close the crossing to road traffic? The legal brains need to answer this one. If there is no limit then Lincoln must plan to make the best of a bad situation.
Let the High Street be pedestrianised from the traffic lights at St Marks, with limited traffic access as for the rest of the High Street. Then there is plenty of room to build a wide footbridge with sloping ramps and/or lifts in the middle of the road. The crossing gates would then be removed. The level crossing on Brayford Wharf would remain and this, together with the East West link, would have to be incorporated into a new traffic circulation system.
How about the City/County traffic planners doing something with this?”