The Southport level crossing where a woman narrowly avoided being hit by a train has been waiting in vain for four barriers to be installed there after a tragedy seven years ago.
Cab footage showed the moment the resident narrowly avoided being hit by a train on 24 January 2025 at a level crossing on Crescent Road, on Merseyrail’s Northern Line between Birkdale and Hillside.
Sadly, others have not been so fortunate.
On 29th January 2019, a woman died at the crossing.
Her brother and other family members led a determined campaign for four barriers to be installed at the spot, with over a thousand people signing the petition.
He believes his sister could still be alive today had four barriers been in place there originally.
On 27th September 2022, police were called after the death of a man at the same crossing.
The brother said at the time: “It brings it all back, but I’ll not rest until Network Rail do what they promised to do and secure that dangerous crossing once and for all!”
More than 1,000 people signed his petition on the Change.org website “to secure the railway crossing on Crescent Road / Grosvenor Road to prevent deaths.”
At the time, he said: “If this prevents what our family has gone through and other families, then we’ve accomplished a great thing.”
It led to Network Rail committing to make the changes demanded in July 2019, as they insisted: “The safety of all level crossing users at Crescent Road in Birkdale is our priority.
“We are in the early stages of planning to replace the signalling for trains in the area and this includes the installation of full barriers at this level crossing in future.
“In the meantime, we have installed vehicle enforcement cameras to discourage level crossing misuse.
“Road users and pedestrians alike are reminded they must never cross when the warning lights and sirens are in use.”
Network Rail has been contacted for a new comment.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
