Skip to main content
Logo icon

Main navigation

  • Home
  • My Plan
  • News
  • About Dr Ben Spencer
Logo icon

Level Crossings: Visit to Network Rail Operations Centre

  • Tweet
Thursday, 2 November, 2023
  • Local News
Dr Ben Spencer Mp at Network Raikl Operations Centre

This morning I joined Egham Hythe Cllr Alex Balkan and Mark Adams at the Network Rail Operations Centre, where we saw first hand their signalling operations and met with representatives from the Network Rail and SWR teams. It is very clear that Network Rail (NR) understand the strength of local feeling over the impact level crossings are having on our community following our recent engagement, and are very keen to work with us through their work to improve both down times and communication.  

I was delighted to hear that NR are working to deliver improvements through a number of means. They have already issues improved operational guidance, which they hope will see immediate benefits, and are also looking at technical solutions including identifying whether there are more optimal points to lower barriers, looking at striking point for when trains leave stations, further improvements to staff training, and detailed modelling of potential impacts of changes. Detailed and accessible data is vital for much of this work, and work is also ongoing to look at improvements that can be made to their systems to deliver this. 

Two further issues identified that have made matters worse are engineering works on the mainline which result in more trains using the Weybridge-Egham branch line, and recent faults with the new signalling equipment installed in the summer. NR are working with the equipment supplier to improve reliability, and no further engineering work is planned until February, by which time we will hopefully have a clearer idea of broader improvements, and a clear communications strategy for residents. 

These issues are made even more complicated by the number of level crossings we have in close proximity to each other and NR are very conscious that any solutions must work across the line and all level crossings, not causing additional problems elsewhere. Cllr Balkan and I highlighted that local knowledge and information should be included in their assessments of possible solutions, and that the impact on emergency services must also be included when seeking local solutions. 

I will continue to work with Cllr Balkan and the teams from both NR and SWR to address these issues. NR have agreed to provide regular updates which we will continue to share. In the meantime, if please do continue to share your experiences.  

You may also be interested in

Chertsey Station

Improve Local Rail Services

I am campaigning to improve local train services. Our local infrastructure connects communities and helps make Runnymede such a great place to live, work and run a business.

MP Tables Bill to Reduce Traffic Delay and Disruption

Tuesday, 1 April, 2025
Runnymede and Weybridge MP, Dr Ben Spencer, today introduced the Transport (Duty to Cooperate) Bill in Parliament, to highlight the issues of continued serious disruption on our transport networks and deliver on his pledge to keep Runnymede and Weybridge moving.The Bill calls for a duty on transport

Show only

  • Articles
  • Local News
  • Opinions
  • Reports
  • Speeches
  • Speeches in Parliament
  • Westminster News

Dr Ben Spencer Member of Parliament for Runnymede and Weybridge

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • About Dr Ben Spencer
Promoted by Hilary Butler on behalf of Dr Ben Spencer, both of Curzon House, Church Road, Windlesham, GU20 6BH
Copyright 2025 Dr Ben Spencer Member of Parliament for Runnymede and Weybridge. All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree