Council admit election pledge is unworkable Options

[Richard Garvie]

During the election campaign, residents in Thatcham were promised by the Conservative Party that the council would "look far and wide" to come up with a solution to fix congestion around Thatcham Station. They haven't looked that far as they still don't know how much it would cost, but they apparently know enough to say that it will never be resolved.

From the council:

"There is nothing that the Highway Authority can do to resolve this problem whilst there is a level crossing at this location. The only way that the problem could be resolved would be to build a bridge over the railway thus removing the need for the level crossing. However this would be extremely expensive and there is unfortunately no likelihood in the foreseeable future of the Council being able to fund such an expensive proposal. The cost of providing this structure at present is unknown. Given the vertical alignment at the level crossing it is likely that any such structure would also need to continuously span the Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Kennet, which would considerably add to the cost.

There is very little funding for transport schemes being provided from central government in the current economic climate but where it is this is only provided for projects of high strategic importance. It is highly unlikely that this location in Thatcham would ever be deemed to have significant strategic importance to the highway network even if central government funds were to become more widely available at some point in the future."

[Andy Capp]

I suggest the first thing to do would be to get data on waiting times compared to train movement times and see if the waiting time could be reduced. It might be worth while having an expected waiting time display, a bit like the tube in London has. Some of the frustration is the waiting without knowing what the expect wait will be. Although this doesn't actually help residents who are blighted by the crossing.

[Richard Garvie]

I suggest the first thing to do would be to get data on waiting times compared to train movement times and see if the waiting time could be reduced. It might be worth while having an expected waiting time display, a bit like the tube in London has. Some of the frustration is the waiting without knowing what the expect wait will be. Although this doesn't actually help residents who are blighted by the crossing.

I think the best idea so far is to optimise crossing barriers to type of train if it can be done. I know it happens in europe, but whether Network Rail would invest in this for a standalone crossing is unlikely, let alone the whole line.

What would you do with the sign, put it by the roundabout or closer to the crossing gates? Problem with this idea is the road layout. If the signs were at the barriers, most of traffic stuck at peak times wouldn't see them, so do you then have multiple signs?

[dannyboy]

I think the best idea so far is to optimise crossing barriers to type of train if it can be done. I know it happens in europe, but whether Network Rail would invest in this for a standalone crossing is unlikely, let alone the whole line.

What would you do with the sign, put it by the roundabout or closer to the crossing gates? Problem with this idea is the road layout. If the signs were at the barriers, most of traffic stuck at peak times wouldn't see them, so do you then have multiple signs?

Why don't you make a pledge to the residents of Thatcham to 'look far & wide' into this & then report your findings?