Dalwhinnie community leaders vow to step up campaign to reinstate Ben Alder level crossing
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Community leaders are vowing to step up their campaign for the reinstatement of a railway level crossing controversially closed in Dalwhinnie in the summer.
The village’s watchdog pressed Network Rail to respond to them by last Wednesday on a course of action to resolve the five-month dispute, but claims they have been ignored yet again.
Jen Dickinson, Dalwhinnie Community Council chairwoman, told the Strathy: “Our engagement with Network Rail since the virtual stakeholder meeting in September appears to be running off the rails.
“What is important that everyone understands is that anywhere in Scotland where they see a blue sign at a level crossing stating ‘Private Level Crossing Authorised Users Only’ then that access is under threat.
“Network Rail can come along tomorrow, without any warning or consultation and lock the crossing gates using so called safety arguments that do not stand up to scrutiny.
“Network Rail has shown no respect for local communities, businesses or user groups, but more significantly zero respect for Scottish access rights and customs.
“Their bosses pretend that English law applies in Scotland and have no procedures in place to discuss safety or any other issues with local communities, outdoor recreation, tourism interests or politicians at local or national level.
“They ignore all they don’t agree with and are out of control and impossible to regulate properly under current arrangements.”
Ms Dickinson said that the focus in early 2022 will shift to LNER Azuma trains.
She said she has been visited by British Transport Police who “had been given the impression” that campaigners would be protesting on the line from December 15.
She stressed this was not the case and never would be: “We are not stupid and irresponsible people.”
Ms Dickinson said: “A programme of protest is being developed in discussion with other stakeholders.
“We will bring to the attention of UK politicians the serious problem of these trains, with their less than adequate warning horns passing crossings such as Dalwhinnie and elsewhere.”
Outdoors TV presenter and author Cameron McNeish, of Newtonmore, is confident the community has a strong legal case for the return of the long-standing access to Ben Alder and other surrounding hills. There have never been any reported accidents at the crossing.
Mr McNeish said: “I think Network Rail is being totally disingenuous in its refusal to even consider opening up this gate.
“For a kick-off, they had absolutely no consultation with the local Dalwhinnie community when they initially locked the gate, and if safety is the factor, you have to ask yourself how many trains actually pass through here to make it such a hazard?
“Walkers, cyclists and local folk are sensible enough to react to a lights system or do what we do at so many crossings – wait, watch and listen.
“Network Rail is reacting as though people were stupid and this attitude does them no favours at all.
“I’m pretty sure they have breached the Scottish Outdoor Access Code by locking a gate on a right of way, and if this situation ends up in court I’m pretty sure they will lose.”
Award-winning access rights campaigner Dave Morris labelled Network Rail and LNER as “two rogue UK public bodies who have no idea about how to solve Scottish issues”.
He said: “Nearly six months on, and Network Rail has proved it is incapable of effective dialogue with the local community and other stakeholders, and has no solution to the problem it created.
“Attention must now turn to Azuma trains which are the real culprit in this endless fiasco. Nobody seems capable of fixing the problem of their less than adequate warning horns.
“The only answer may be to force all southbound Azumas to reduce their speed when passing through Dalwhinnie and so minimise the risk to anyone using the level crossing.
“A series of protests at stations and level crossings between Inverness and Newcastle in 2022, in cooperation with British Transport Police, will probably be the only way to solve this Azuma problem and their impact on level crossing use in Scotland.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said their expert teams are conducting a detailed review of alternative options for Ben Alder, looking at the likely costs, timescales, and practicality of potential works at the crossing.
He said: “The options under review include new pathways and whether a technological solution can be implemented. The opening of the level crossing to the public is highly unlikely to be an outcome of this review.
“Once complete, we will share the findings of the review with the local community and other stakeholders.”
An LNER spokesperson, said: “As confirmed by Network Rail in an open letter dated November 3, 2021, the Ben Alder crossing was closed due to safety concerns identified in July 2021.
“These safety concerns were identified by Network Rail and have no relation to our trains. Network Rail concluded after an investigation that the closure of the crossing was the only appropriate action.
“Trespassing on the railway is incredibly dangerous and only designated public crossings should be used.”
The Cairngorms National Park Authority is the local access authority and spokesman said: “We recognise the frustrations of key stakeholders and continue to press Network Rail to find an agreeable solution as soon as possible.
“Network Rail have assured us they will be hosting another stakeholder group in January to consider options and agree next steps. We will wait until then before responding further.”
