Fresh calls for bridge at Ufton Nervet after latest fatality

The latest incident in which a 60-year-old Reading man died occurred just three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the 2004 rail disaster in which seven people lost their lives and more than 70 were injured - and has prompted renewed calls for safety improvements to the crossing which has now seen 11 fatalities in the last decade.
In September 2012, a petition to replace the existing half-barrier crossing with a full barrier was signed by more than 340 people.
Later that year, Network Rail promised to replace the crossing with a bridge – but despite more chilling near-misses since then, nothing has been done.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News after the latest tragedy, the rail giant admitted it had “significantly underestimated” the cost of the bridge and was trying to secure additional funding.
It also described replacing a level crossing as a “complex, lengthy process” and said it had held negotiations with landowners, local communities and the local authority to ensure that any solution was acceptable.
Responding to that statement, Newbury MP Richard Benyon, whose family estate owns the majority of the land around the crossing, said: “There was a meeting between the Englefield Estate and Network Rail last October and we made it clear we would be fully co-operative with them over any safety improvements.
“We allowed them (Network Rail) access to the land to carry out some tests in April, including some borehole digging, but we have heard nothing from them since then. There are no complexities as far as I’m concerned.
"I cannot believe there has been another tragedy and my thoughts are with the families affected.”
A spokesman for West Berkshire Council, Keith Ulyatt, said: “Network Rail submitted bridge designs to us two to three weeks ago. Our focus on them is about safety, and specifically forward visibility.
“It is essential the crossing is not replaced with something that is going to have its own safety issues and that is what we are looking at and want to be sure of. We will be responding to Network Rail within the next two weeks.”
The delay over the bridge being built has led to some accusing Network Rail of getting its priorities wrong and waiting too long to press ahead with the plans.
One survivor of the 2004 tragedy, Jane Hawker, of Newbury, said: “How many more people have to die before something is done? It is terrible complacency and this needs to be finally sorted.”
Former train driver and independent rail commentator for the Thames Valley region, Hugh Jaegar, said: “It concerns me that £500m has been spent just on paperwork for the HS2 project and a bridge for Ufton Nervet which might cost around £3m has not been built. I do worry about where their priorities lie.”
A Network Rail spokesperson, said: “Whilst a bridge is still our preferred option, unless we can find more funding our only option might be to make changes to the level crossing in preparation for electrification.
“That another incident of this nature should happen at this point is a tragedy, but serves to underline the necessity of Network Rail’s programme of closing level crossings.
“Over 750 have been closed over the past five years, but this still leaves thousands on the network, many of which it will never be practical to close.”
West Berkshire Councillor Geoff Mayes (Lib Dem, Mortimer), who started the 2012 petition for a full barrier crossing, said: “I’m very disappointed that still nothing has been done to improve the safety at Ufton Nervet.
“It is the same as it was 10 years ago and we are the ones who have to deal with the aftermath of the tragedies. “As far as I know there has been no communication between Network Rail and West Berkshire Council at executive level.
"Just last week I was sat in my car and saw another near-miss at the crossing. Something needs to be done.”
MP John Redwood, in whose constituency the crossing is, said: “It is tragic that the deaths continue 10 years on and no action has been taken.
“I have renewed my calls for immediate action to put some kind of surveillance system at the crossing and am waiting for a response from the railway.”
Police say they not treating the death last Thursday as a suspicious incident.