Network Rail closes first Scottish level crossing this century

Network Rail has officially marked the closure of Inchyra level crossing in Perthshire – the first Scottish public crossing to close this century.

The automatic half-barrier crossing has been removed from the network after Perth and Kinross Council and Network Rail worked together to create a new link road to divert traffic away from the railway.

The closure is part of a wider Network Rail initiative to reduce the number of level crossings on Scottish roads.

The company, which cannot close public crossings without local authority support, is currently in negotiations with other councils over the future of several public crossings.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said:

“Level crossing misuse represents the biggest outside risk to rail safety. We are committed to closing crossings where possible and we also avoid building new crossings into our lines.”