Railway bridge safety barriers improved

Crash barriers will be upgraded near the crash site

Work is underway to upgrade safety barriers on bridges over railway lines in North Yorkshire in an attempt to avoid another Selby rail crash.

The accident happened when a car and trailer ran off the M62 and into the path of an express train which then collided with a freight train.

Ten people died and 82 were injured in the crash at Great Heck in February 2001 leading to calls for improvements to barriers where roads cross railway lines.

Motorway-style barriers will now be put on seven of the road bridges which cross the East Coast Main Line.

Sites identified

Brian Jones, from North Yorkshire County Council's environmental services department, said they have been identifying the bridges which most need the alterations.

He said: "We have been very proactive from the start.

"We anticipate that of the 133 bridges which cross railway lines in North Yorkshire, 25 of them will require this safety work to take place."

The sites where initial work will be carried out include an unclassified road close to the M62 bridge at Great Heck; Green Lane also near Great Heck; four bridges north of York between Tollerton and Skelton; and Avenue Bridge between Northallerton and Thirsk.