It its response to the report on safety at level crossings published by the Commons Transport Committee on March 7 (RB1458 p1), Network Rail points out that its 6 400 level crossings 'are a legacy from an era when roads were for horse-drawn carriages and rail was for an occasional slow steam train'. Nevertheless, 'decisions taken over 100 years ago are still affecting the safety of the public today', says NR. At over 5 000 of these crossings, 'the public decides how and when to cross the railway and is not required to inform Network Rail before deciding to cross'. NR thus depends on the public using level crossings correctly and adhering to signage, guidance and instructions when doing so, but 'rather tragically we know this is not always the case'.
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