Network Rail is upgrading Nether Poppleton level crossing to improve safety for rail passengers, drivers and pedestrian users.
Trains on the York to Harrogate line cross over the route to Manor Academy on Millfield Lane. The service now runs every half hour in both directions too.
It used to be a Half Barrier style crossing which means the barriers only covered one lane on each side of the crossing.
Network Rail told YorkMix: “Due to the crossing’s busy location and high usage, we’re changing it from an automatic level crossing to one with manually controlled barriers with obstacle detection.
“Work will continue until November this year.”
Trains are continuing to use the crossing so take extra care when on foot or bike when it’s open.
The Level Crossing Obstacle Detection System scans the crossing area immediately after the barriers are closed to detect the presence of any obstacles that could potentially cause accident.
Only if the area is free can the signals be cleared and the trains pass safely.
It is well past time that railways implement some sort of system wide Obstacle Detection System – with autonomous car development showing it can work for slow vehicles (in trials), system akin to signaling could be developed reasonably quickly so that the now “normal ” Automatic train protection systems can stop trains for obstacles and signals