Beddingham Crossing

[Elojikal]

I was reading in the paper today that it looks likely now that Beddingham crossing on the A27 between Lewes and Eastbourne is going to be replaced by a bridge and the road widened to a dual carriage way.

Can't come soon enough. Despite the fact trains go through that way every 5-10 minutes it remains an automatic half-barrier crossing. On a busy crossing on a busy road where the traffic can quickly tailback a quarter of a mile when the gates come down it is suprising it has remained a half-barrier for so long as numerous drivers have tried to sneak across requiring a 40mph speed limit to be improsed on the crossing which does no favours either for the rail users or the road users who are held up even longer by the train having to slow down.

[callumpresley]

I agree. I think its crazy having a level crossing on the busy A27 or on any A road!

Good news then, if the building work goes ahead.

[southcoasttrains]

Ever been to Hampden Park LOL

About time they decide to build a bridge, then we can get trains back to 90 running through there apart from the current 40.

[bdy26]

Is slowing the trains down really going to make much difference if a car driver cuts it too fine? or is it to avoid unit damage when they do?

[chrispierce]

To right, a bridge should have been in place years ago.

[callumpresley]

Is slowing the trains down really going to make much difference if a car driver cuts it too fine? or is it to avoid unit damage when they do?

But it does give the car driver more time to see if there is a train coming. The speed goes up to 80mph after the level crossing.

[skipperdipper]

I was in the car between Swindon-The Wirral today, and the busy road between Leominster-Shrewsbury (A Road, but cant remember which?), has a level crossing at Onibury. There was a tail back by about 1/2 mile, and the traffic had to stop when the twice when the barriers came down just after going up again!

Rob

[callumpresley]

Yes its even worse in rush hour because there are more trains and more cars.

[southcoasttrains]

you can see the train when it's heading from Glynde, but not Lewes.

[Elojikal]

Suprised you can't see see the train coming from Lewes when heading towards Lewes by car. But I guess there's a lot of obstructions and foliage along the western side of the crossing.

Anyway, good news that a bridge will finally be built there. I'm not sure why it had to remain a AHB for so long though. It should've been full barrier by now.

[southcoasttrains]

Hasn't been finalised yet, have to wait untill the public enquiry is over.

[Elojikal]

Doubt there will be any major objections...

[southcoasttrains]

nope

[stephenwiseman]

Went down to Littlehampton today, and had a 45 minute layover at Ford on the way back, and i must say, they really need to do something about that level crossing next to the station. It was down 3/4 of the time, and went down 2 minutes before every train, even if it was coming into stop at Ford from the other direction (i.e. stopping at Ford then going over the crossing). It seemed like quite a busy road too, there were a few heavy lorries going through!

Also, bare in mind that the stretch between Ford and Barnham is the busiest stretch of track on the West Coastway (except Havant-Portsmouth, but i don't believe there are any level crossings between them??)

[callumpresley]

Bump!

The bridge is finally going to be built:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sout ... 777395.stm