THE railway crossing where Katie Littlewood was killed on Saturday – the third person to die there in 10 years – could be replaced with a footbridge by the end of the year.
Network Rail, which is responsible for the UK’s railway infrastructure, had started drawing up the scheme BEFORE Saturday’s tragedy – and a planning application will be filed within months.
The teenager’s death has reignited the long-running debate over Bishop’s Stortford’s pedestrian rail crossings, with safety campaigners arguing they should be shut in favour of bridges.
Tina Hughes, whose daughter Olivia Bazlinton died alongside friend Charlotte Thompson at Elsenham station in 2005, said: “My heart goes out to this young lady’s family and friends.
“If Network Rail had revealed the shortcomings of its risk assessment processes at Olivia and Charlie’s inquest, this crossing might already have had locking gates and/or a bridge, and another death might have been avoided.”
Her views were echoed by Olivia’s father, Chris Bazlinton, who said: “People shouldn’t be able to walk on the track when a train is approaching. This is an issue that is affecting the whole country and Network Rail have not done enough.”
But residents, including those who live near Johnson’s Footpath Crossing and the neighbouring Cannons Mill Lane Crossing, opposed the scheme.
They argue the paths are safe if used properly and that bridges are too hard for disabled and elderly people to use or too large and unsightly if they have wheelchair ramps. Network Rail says its bridges will be step-free to comply with disability laws.
Former town mayor Eric Marshall, who lives in Cannons Close, said: “I’ve lived here for 50 years and until [2002] there had never been an accident.
“I don’t know exactly what happened on Saturday; it’s too appalling to even think about and I’m massively sympathetic. [But] it’s got audible sirens that you can hear from a long way off, and in my view these things are as safe as they can be. It’s safer than crossing the road.”
County councillor John Barfoot, whose Bishop’s Stortford East division covers Johnson’s Footpath Crossing, says he surveyed neighbouring residents last year about Network Rail’s plans and most were against it.
He said: “We live in a dangerous world and it’s difficult to remove danger from everyday life. However, when we consider railway lines, the stakes are so high that we must do our best to protect the vulnerable.
“The proposal [for a footbridge] was not popular, but in the light of this tragic accident I believe that we need to look again at Network Rail’s offer.”
In May last year, the Observer reported that Network Rail was considering bridges for the two crossings, as well as Twyford Road Crossing and a fourth in Thorley. It argued there was a “strong business case” for the changes.
This week, a spokeswoman said: “Network Rail has a nationwide programme to improve and close level crossings where possible. We are already working with the local authority on plans to close Johnson’s Footpath Crossing and provide alternative access.”
The case for closure has been backed by Stortford student Megan Dittrich, whose friend Dennis Everett was killed by an express train passing through Stansted Mountfitchet station in 2010.
Megan is campaigning for trains to slow down as they pass through stations or for barriers to be put up at platform edges.
Rail safety campaigner Elaine Dawson said there had been other deaths on the line before 2002 but believed they had either been suicides or ruled as open verdicts.The Cannons Close resident, who successfully lobbied for wicking gates and warning sirens to be installed after Joan Sage’s death in 2002, said: “It’s a fairly good system, but there’s no foolproof locking device.
“[Saturday’s tragedy] proves the point that no child should be able to set foot on the track – if kids are allowed to walk across, it only takes one moment of carelessness for something to happen.”
