Level crossing closed after youths 'play chicken'


Network Rail said there had been four instances of "dangerous misuse" at the crossing over two weeks

A level crossing where children were spotted "playing chicken" with oncoming trains has been temporarily closed.

The emergency 21-day closure of Sportsfield level crossing in Featherstone followed "a sustained period of serious safety concerns", according to Network Rail.

There had been four instances of "dangerous misuse" in just two weeks, which also included a report of a child being allowed to wander onto the railway, and all the incidents could have resulted in serious injury or death, Network Rail said.

Darren Robertson-Wilson, the organisation's level crossing manager, said: "We'll work closely with the local authority and the community as we assess future options for the crossing."

The crossing was closed on Thursday after Wakefield Council gave its approval to the move.


Network Rail said all the recent incidents could have resulted in someone's death

A Network Rail spokesperson said "options for added safety measures" were being explored before the crossing was reopened, including the installation of warning lights. The nearest alternative access point for pedestrians was currently at Halfpenny Lane, the spokesperson said.

Robertson-Wilson added: "The safety of people who live near or use the railway is our top priority, and we don't take a decision to seek an emergency level crossing closure lightly. We're sorry for any inconvenience this closure might cause for residents, but the behaviour seen at Sportsfield level crossing in recent weeks has been extremely concerning."

New risk assessments would be carried out at both the Sportsfield and Halfpenny Lane crossings, the spokesperson said. "In addition, Network Rail is stepping up its community and school engagement to reinforce rail safety messages to young people."

Pedestrian 'trapped under lorry' as road shut


The road is closed by the Red Funnel vehicle ferry terminal from the Holiday Inn to Town Quay

A stretch of a main route through Southampton city centre has been closed and ferries disrupted after a pedestrian was trapped under a lorry.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said officers were called to Town Quay shortly after 10:45 BST.

The road is closed from the Holiday Inn to Town Quay.

Red Funnel's vehicle ferry is running a limited service for foot passengers, cars and small vans only between Southampton and East Cowes.

A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service said: "The incident involved a patient trapped under a lorry. We attended with one ambulance crew and the air ambulance service also attended."

The patient was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

BBC Reporter Patrick Hughes who was at the scene said there is a "40m cordon in place" with a white lorry circled by police tape and "four police cars with another vehicle and a police motorbike".

"The road is closed and people have stopped going about their business to look at the scene," he added.

Those would be great if they materialize. But wouldn't they have to be in the timetables already? Or isn't there a minimum period between a timetable update and a (non-emergency) service change?

If the Oxford service starts (and I'm not convinced it will) in 3 weeks, on data I have there could be an extra train from Temple Meads at around 17:15 offering a far better connection at Chippenham.  And - although my data is less clear on it - the 07:21 from Melksham may offer a better official connection at Chippenham on to Bristol.

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:47 is being delayed at Trowbridge.
This is due to the police dealing with an incident.

That change to the weekday Swindon evening peak from 17:35 to 17:45 is a pain - it means arriving at Melksham at 18:09 instead of 17:59.

I cannot see the first a Toller since the platform face in the photo is made of brick whereas Toller was of stone. The line also seems to have been double at one time where as Toller was not.

£1m accessible route isn't accessible because of 15 stone steps and stiles


Wheelchair user Morgan Jones can't access the route because of the stile

More than £1m has been spent on creating an accessible route – that isn't accessible.

Bikers and wheelchair users have said a redeveloped two-mile section of a bridle path along the River Dee is not accessible to everyone.

The path links the communities of Corwen and Cynwyd, in Denbighshire. Critics have said they cannot access it because they have to climb down 15 stone steps to reach it. The path also has fences and stiles.

Denbighshire council said it was working with landowners to improve access.

Wheelchair-user Morgan Jones is angry he cannot access the entire route. "I can't understand why the council hasn't put in that ramp. I feel that disabled people in a wheelchair are a second thought. I'm quite frustrated to be honest. It's 2026. It's a shame that I have to fight for accessibility."

Ross Adams, from Cycling UK, says it is a shame the route is not accessible to all. “It’s great that progress was made but then it stalled and it’s got to a situation where it may as well not have started because it’s almost a pointless exercise," he said. “We’ve got a situation at both ends of the active travel corridor where people can’t really access it, so it begs the question, why was it put in in the first place?"


Fifteen steps leading to footpath

Active travel is one of the Welsh government's commitments to encourage more walking and cycling.

Work to convert the old railway line began in 2024 with funding from a wider pot of £3.8m from the UK government’s Levelling Up scheme.

Much of the path now has a new tarmac surface, costing more than £1m. But in Cynwyd, access to the route is down the steps.

At the Corwen end, the grass path runs through private pieces of land which are demarcated on the path with fencing and stiles, over which travellers need to be able to climb.



Dafydd Morris, from Corwen Town Council, said: “We desperately need accessible gates here so horses, bikers, wheelchairs - everybody - can access. Denbighshire County Council and the landowners need to come to an agreement." He added: “It’s a beautiful path along the riverside and it’s a shame so many people can’t access it."

A Denbighshire council spokesperson said the first phase of works was finished recently where "improvements to the existing steps" were made at Cynwyd and a new tarmac surface was laid. They said funding had been secured for a ramp to the path in Cynwyd.

"We understand that the existing route is popular with the local residents and would like to thank them for their patience and understanding during the first construction phase whilst the path was closed," the spokesperson said.

"The council have been successful in applying for further funding to introduce a ramp at the Cynwyd end of the path to improve accessibility for pushchairs and wheelchair users which will be completed by spring 2027. We are also currently developing works to improve the accessibility of the path at the Corwen/A5 end."