Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 29 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Level Crossings: Closures

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to conduct an annual review of (a) the duration of closures of public level crossings, (b) the potential impact of those closures on local economies and (c) the potential merits of replacing high-delay road crossings with alternative means of crossing railway lines.

Answer

Network Rail is responsible for the safe management and operation of level crossings across the rail network, which includes monitoring their performance and usage and the duration of closures arising from train operations.

The Department for Transport has no current plans to conduct an annual review of closure durations or their economic impacts. However, Network Rail already assesses level crossing performance and considers a range of factors when reviewing whether upgrades or alternative solutions—such as bridges, underpasses or road realignments—may be justified. These decisions take account of safety risk, operational needs, local circumstances and the potential impacts on communities and the wider network. The Department continues to work with Network Rail and the safety regulator to support proportionate improvements where they deliver clear safety and network benefits.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
109734
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Closures Level crossings
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk