Delight for community as level crossing improved and made safer

A community in Ty Ddu, Radnorshire, are now benefitting from an improved and safer level crossing after Network Rail installed new miniature stop lights – the first of its kind on the Heart of Wales line.  

The new lights, or Miniature Warning Stop Lights (MSL), are designed for foot crossings or private roads where the user has to operate the barriers or gates themselves. Despite being in a rural area with a small number of authorised users, the crossing has a high number of daily users – sometimes more than 50 people have used this crossing per day in recent years. 

The MLS upgrade will reduce risks from potential sun glare when looking in each direction and other factors such as vegetation growth that may hinder sight of oncoming trains. It will also reduce waiting time at the crossing as the new lights will inform crossing users when a train is approaching.  

Prior to this upgrade, crossing users would sometimes have to wait for up to 30 minutes to cross the railway, due to its location on the line and the long signal section – meaning signallers could not provide crossing users with the exact location of the train between Knighton and Llandrindod Wells, so users would have to wait until the train passed through the whole section.  

Feedback from crossing users at Ty Ddu has been overwhelmingly positive. All who have encountered the new MLS crossing have expressed how much safer and confident they feel when using the crossing, as well as applauding the reduced waiting times.  

On Wednesday 19 April, authorised users, local councillor Geoff Morgan and Network Rail celebrated the commissioning and opening of the new MSL system.  

Rhodri Evans, level crossing manager for Network Rail Wales & Borders, said: “It’s great to see this level crossing enhancement installed at Ty Ddu. I have engaged with the authorised users and local community for many years, and they have all wanted a safer way to cross the railway in order to get to their homes and businesses.  

“It’s a real statement from Network Rail, that we are committed to safety and efficiency across the whole route, including this rural line. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this happen, and I hope all who use this level crossing will feel safer and more confident when doing so.”