Great Western Coffee Shop

Wooden crossings used by pedestrians to cross railway lines in the Exeter area are among thousands to be investigated following the death of a 66-year-old woman.

The move has been ordered by a coroner at the inquest on art lecturer Teresa Mansell who was hit by a train as she crossed a rail track.  Dr Karen Johnson, deputy assistant coroner for Surrey, ordered Network Rail to carry out the study of every crossing in the UK within a month after Mrs Mansell was hit by a train after she slipped on a wooden crossing near her home in Staines last April.  The inquest heard she could have got her foot stuck in a gap measuring about three inches.

Network Rail, responsible for crossings, is now looking at them all following the coroner's concerns.

Some of the local crossings are located along the Tarka Line at Newton St Cyres.  There is a wooden crossing near Carter Avenue, Exmouth, which is used by walkers to get to the Exe estuary across the Avocet Line to Exeter.  There are others at Powderham, Starcross, Stoke Canon and Exminster.

A Network Rail spokeswoman said: "All our crossings pass rigorous inspections by Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate and many are non-slip."  However, HMRI says crossings hold "the greatest potential for catastrophic risk on the railways."

I can tell you the ones in the vicinty to Exmouth are safe having walked over them during October. That new Exe Estuary trail is fantastic, well done to Devon CC

they could have opened up Tavvy and had change for the same cost as that bloomin cycle way!

Really????

No. The budget for the Exe Estuary scheme was ^11.5 million, while Tavistock-Plymouth has been quoted at somewhere in the region of ^20m.

I don't know whether vacman sells tickets but if he does, next time check your change. Carefully. :P

I should hope it is for the cost of it! they could have opened up Tavvy and had change for the same cost as that bloomin cycle way!