A list of five possible solutions to the congestion caused by Northallerton’s railway level crossings have been drawn up following a meeting called by MP Rishi Sunak.
The Richmond MP called a summit meeting to consider what could be done to ease the traffic congestion in the county town caused by its three railway level crossings.
Rail chiefs and local council officers and members met at County Hall to work through ideas for solving the problems caused by the long delays at the crossings, particularly Low Gates at the north end of town.
About 40 passenger train services and between 30 and 40 freight services a day pass through Low Gates, the busiest crossing at the north end of the High Street. The barriers are down for about 4.5 hours in every 24.
The barriers will be lowered more frequently with the introduction of direct Middlesbrough-London Virgin East Coast services in 2020 and an anticipated growth in freight traffic.
A new road bridge over the railway line and a relief road between the Darlington and Stokesley roads which will be built as part of the North Northallerton development is expected to help but will not resolve the problem.
Mr Sunak said: “Before the summit I warned there were no easy or cheap solutions. But this has re-started an overdue debate about a longstanding issue and following the meeting we do now have a better idea of how it might be resolved in the future.
“Northallerton is set to grow substantially in the next 20 years and we need to make sure that welcome growth is not compromised by traffic congestion.
“I am grateful for the input of those who attended the summit and the many constituents who put forward their ideas beforehand – all of which were discussed,” he added.
A list of possible solutions (see below) was drawn up following the meeting by North Yorkshire County Council.
Mr Sunak said some of the mooted options might be ruled out on grounds of practicality, or cost, but it was now a matter for the local authorities working with Network Rail, the Department of Transport, and Transport for the North to decide on the best way forward.
Transport for the North was established last year with a brief to draw up a regional transport strategy. Its conclusions could have a bearing on the rail route through Northallerton.
North Yorkshire representative on Transport for the North is Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, who also attended the Low Gates summit.
He said: “Low Gates level crossing causes significant congestion in Northallerton and although the proposed North Northallerton relief road will create an alternative route it will only mitigate the congestion for a period of time until natural growth takes up the additional road capacity created.
“It is therefore essential that we continue to consider alternative solutions and mechanisms to fund them.
“We must be under no illusion that this is a difficult and expensive problem to resolve but that does not mean that it is impossible. We will consider every option and pursue each opportunity and we are working closely with Hambleton District Council and Network Rail to assess long-term options at Low Gates.”
The options are:
- Bridge: Two possible routes – North-South (on existing line of road) or East-West (with new link road behind Halfords). Ramp for North-South option would stretch back to Swain Court to the south and the Co-op petrol station to the north. Estimated cost: £10m or more.
- Tunnel under the railway: Would be prone to flooding. Estimated cost: more than £10m.
- Move railway line: new junction and route for Teesside rail line north of town as part of upgrade of East Coast mainline by Network Rail for HS2 Leeds-Newcastle extension. Estimated cost: hundreds of £m.
- Northallerton road bypass: would help but not completely solve problem. Has been long considered but no preferred route ever published. County Council currently conducting review. Estimated cost: £40m.