Network Rail commissioned Costain to develop a new type of enhanced warning technology which will help reduce the number of incidents at passive footpath and bridleway level crossings across Britain.
Under the contract, Costain will develop the technology and the first units are expected to be installed within the next 12 months. Work is already underway to design and develop the Meerkat solution. When developed and approved, the Meerkat contract sees the technology installed at sites across Britain over the next five years.
“This is an important project which will help further reduce level crossing risk across the network. Meerkat will give users information on whether it is safe to cross and allow us to replace hundreds of Victorian ‘whistleboards’ – helping line side neighbours as well as improving safety,” Allan Spence, head of passenger and public safety at Network Rail said.
Currently around five people a year are killed at level crossings in Britain with hundreds of reported near misses. The new enhanced warning devices, which will detect an oncoming train and provide an audible and visible warning to alert users, will have a significant impact on public safety at level crossings.
There are around 6,000 crossings on Britain’s rail network and for safety issues, between 2009 and 2017, Network Rail closed 1,100 level crossings and improved sighting at over 1,100 crossings.
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