Shropshire level crossing fears after barriers fail to drop

Police were called to Wem level crossing in Aston Road yesterday, when the barriers failed to shut despite flashing lights warning of an approaching train. When the fault was recognised Network Rail said the barriers did close over the tracks – but remained shut for more than an hour, causing long tailbacks on either side of the crossing.

Chloe Drinkwater, a spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "We were called to the level crossing because there were reports the barriers wouldn't go down, but lights were still flashing. We closed the road at the turning off to Hodnet, and there was a lot of traffic building up.

"Engineers arrived to fix the barriers and they were lifted before 9.30am.

"They have told us that they will call again if it happens."

The crossing has caused multiple problems since it was automated in October 2013 – in some cases staying closed for up to three hours.

Network Rail described yesterday's situation as a "critical alarm" in which "the crossing went into fail-safe mode and the barriers were down from 8am until about 9.15am. Network Rail alerted West Mercia Police so that a diversion could be set up for road users.

"We are investigating what caused the delays and apologise for any inconvenience."

Julie Hoffman, who lives opposite the crossing, said she had mounting concerns over its safety. "We are a small community and we are fed up with it," she said. "Network Rail just don't want to hear about it – they tell us there isn't a problem."

Over the past three years there have been 25 cases of dangerous driving recorded at the crossing when motorists have ignored the warning signs to drive across. The figures were revealed last November by British Transport Police.

Five years ago Network Rail named the junction as the sixth most dangerous in the country.