Project Wareham

I seem to remember reading that the concern was (apart from NR not wanting to do it, as they want it removed) was that someone could get trapped between the closed gates. Most level crossings have four half barriers that do not all come down at the same time, and from my viewing experience, waiting for steam tours at Feltham, are very easy to push through anyway, even for slightly built women. Add the that the crossing in the shopping centre at Poole was, and may still be, the most misused crossing in the NR Wessex zone, so I guess we have "form" down here.

 

Perhaps the new mega council when that happens will have a different view. Or as an alternative save even more and have no trains west of Poole.

 

I think there was a footbridge being proposed, which many local residents complained about, including a famous actor?

 

Yes covered in both the BBC and Swanage News articles linked by @DcB above.
The last footbridge proposal was an eyesore though.

 

With the latest proximity detection cameras, gate locking and software automated ground level foot crossings are more viable. Will be interesting to see what Network rail will suggest at the meeting.
But a ramp, even if an eyesore, is still more reliable and safer than relying on software.

 

That is a valid concern, which needs to be addressed by someone watching, and if necessary unlocking a gate to let the person out. But that could be done just as well by someone miles away with CCTV as by someone on the spot.

 

Of course there is a modern road bridge nearby which has a pavement, visible in the photo in the BBC item. It "just" needs a 200 metre path with a gentle slope to access it. No modern ramps attached to the original 1880 something footbridge.
Now I wonder what the gradient of the standard ramped footbridge is compared to the slope up the hill to Wareham town centre? Somehow I suspect the footbridge has a shallower slope.

Cheers, Neil
(Sorry, I'll stop it now, making feasible suggestions and wanting facts checked!)

 

Road Traffic accident demolishes Woodsford Level crossing, not far down the line from Wareham.
https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2...ing-badly-damaged-after-road-traffic-accident

Cheers, Neil

 

From experience that is not correct

 

It's not exactly an area of outstanding natural beauty though is it? Wareham station is next to an industrial estate, there's a stonking great road bridge over the line, and just down the road there's a car garage with piles of scrap out the back.

 

Can you please explain?

 

Person on site can see from all angles whilst those watching on CCTV can only see through their cameras.
Because those on site can see from all angles they can act quicker and their decision making process is more suitable to their surroundings

 

From the reports online NR are looking into AI for multiple cameras on crossings which can detect people and alert a remote signal man. Ring cameras can do some thing similar.

But NR's preference still seems to be ramps on the footbridge.

The path on the flyover was discussed somewhere, perhaps on this forum?.
The petition seems confused
https://www.change.org/p/save-wareham-s-ground-level-pedestrian-railway-crossing?signed=true
"Any attempt to close it and replace it with a ramped bridge or pavement on the fly-over next to the main A351 Poole-Wareham road would add significantly to a journey between the north and south sides of the town up a steep grdient.

But does not mention the ramp up to the existing footbridge , which although an "eyesore" might be a gentler slope.

 

No point in NR spending any money as the lease expires in 13 years, Dorset Council have to pay for gate keepers and when lease expires it will be closed.
Thats the worse case scenario

 

This has an artists impression of the ramp, not sure the gradient would be less than the bridge from the Wareham side. However the climb up from the side the buses stop to the road bridge is steep.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2...itted-finding-solution-wareham-rail-crossing/

As these council minutes are only last November I guess the council have had another change of heart hence the email on Friday.

https://moderngov.dorsetcouncil.gov...ossing+Cabinet+Report+including+App+1+2+4.pdf

 

I think that the current Council are angling to 'gift' the new Council an expensive fait accompli.
Pat

 

There is another less steep artists impression from the BBC website.

So the Council consultations agree on a ramped solution, even though another part of the Council disagree

 

I wonder what would happen if Dorset Council stopped paying for gate keepers and just left the gates open, or even removed them? Back to how it used to be pre-gates?

 

Before the bypass in 1973 there used to be a proper road and passenger crossing with a working manned signal box.

 

The bottom of Page 24, top of Page 25 (of the NR risk assessment document) intrigued me with the reference to "a longer term strategy to introduce an additional metro service to Wareham".
Maybe Leanne Ward knows something we do not.