A public inquiry is to be held into plans to permanently close a dangerous level crossing.

The level crossing in Tackley was closed by Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council under emergency measures in 2020 to reduce the immediate risk to the public.

It followed repeated misuse of the level crossing with 15 incidents reported in the previous 18 months.

Network Rail's statement of case shows that in 2019, a train driver travelling from Southampton to Edinburgh reported applying the emergency brakes and missing two elderly ladies with trolley bags "by approximately 40 feet".

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This was the same year another driver reported a near miss with two members of the public, one of whom "motioned to the driver to stop".

(Image: Network Rail)

The driver was shaken but to fit to continue to Oxford where they had booked relief.

In 2019 the driver of a Banbury to Didcot train reported a cyclist deliberately crossing over in front of the train.

Another said that as the train pulled in a man ran across the crossing to try to catch the train. 

And in 2018, the driver of the Bournemouth to Manchester train reported "a very near miss" with what he thought were two children but on viewing the CCTV it was confirmed they were young adults who managed to leave the station before the police could stop them.

The crossing is in the top 10 per cent of the 545 crossings on Network Rail’s Western Route in terms of risk.

A temporary footbridge has been installed over the line and Network Rail is now proposing to install a permanent footbridge with lifts to reach both platforms.

An application for prior approval has been approved by West Oxfordshire District Council. 

Passengers and walkers will be able to use the new footbridge to access platform two, or to walk the bridleway to the east of the village.

It will be constructed to the west, starting outside the station at Nethercote Road and running south alongside the tracks before re-joining the existing bridleway near the River Cherwell.

(Image: National Rail)

Tackley parish councillors had been asking for the level crossing to be closed for over 10 years and were delighted when the footbridge went up. 

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Network Rail was also proposing to permanently close the dangerous level crossings at Sandy Lane and Yarnton by the end of 2024.

However, these plans have been deferred due to the impacts the pandemic and recession have had on freight growth through this section of the railway.

Network Rail said it will continue to monitor freight demand through this corridor over the coming years to establish when intervention is required.

They added the safety of the public "remains a key priority and we will continue to monitor, inspect and risk assess these level crossings".  

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We’ve submitted a Transport and Works Act order for the [Tackley] crossing’s permanent closure after it was shut under emergency measures in 2020.

“A Public Inquiry is due to take place from June 18 until July 5.”