Cyclist from Collingham Velo Club call for a safer crossing on 'absolutely lethal' railway tracks
A cycling club has called for safety changes to a railway crossing it says is lethal.
The level crossing on the A1133 main road, Collingham, has been branded an accident waiting to happen by the club based in the village.
Richard Keefe, of Collingham Velo Club, had a serious accident on the crossing in January this year, and said a female cyclist was taken to hospital recently after a similar incident.
Richard, 72, said the twin track with four rails was at a 30-degree angle, with vehicles often speeding down the road at more than 60mph.
“I had to have an operation because I smashed my hip,” said Richard. “It is a notorious crossing.”
He claimed the accidents on several occasions had been reported and happened on a regular basis of every five or six months.
“There is only one solution — to build a pedestrian and cyclist route over the tracks,” he said.
“The traffic zooms down the road at speed. Somebody, someday, will have a really bad accident and split their head open, and that would be that.”
Antony Samson, of the same club, has campaigned for changes to the level crossing he described as absolutely lethal.
“At least five of our members have been affected and we are all experienced riders — Richard was seriously injured about a year ago,” said Antony.
“We cycle across loads of level crossings and this is the only one designed like this, with the rails almost parallel to the road lanes.
“I have been trying to get safety changes made to it by working with someone from Network Rail.
“Although nothing has happened yet — mainly due to cost I think.”
A Network Rail spokesman confirmed members of the cycling community had raised concerns about the crossing.
“No fault was found with the crossing, however we take concerns like this seriously,” they said.
“Earlier this year, Network Rail began work to instal a new type of decking on the crossing, which removes a surface gap between the crossing and the railway track.
"Half of this decking has now been installed and the rest will be installed in due course.”
