A new safety barrier and trespass guards are some of the upgrades planned for a railway crossing as part of a £194 million redevelopment project. 

The plans, lodged by Network Rail to improve Dimmocks Cote crossing near Stretham, also include audible warning devices. 

“This Dimmocks Cote upgrade proposal forms a part of the wider C3R project that will deliver a safer, more reliable and efficient railway for its customers,” said Network Rail. 

C3R (Cambridge re-signalling, re-lock and re-control project) covers 125 miles of track from Ely in the north to Cambridge, and Thurston to the east. 

Network Rail hopes the project will “improve reliability of the operational railway in the Ely, Cambridgeshire and Anglia area”. 

A manually controlled barrier is planned for the Dimmocks Cote crossing, which sits on the A1123 Newmarket Road, as well as a barrier in each corner.

Network Rail told planners that the crossing is automatically activated by approaching trains and is protected by signals.

All existing equipment at the railway crossing would also be removed as part of the upgrade. 

“The barriers will be fitted with skirts to fence off the railway from users when lowered,” Network Rail told planners. 

“They will be fitted with galvanized guards/cages to shield moving parts of the barrier weights from users.” 

New road traffic light signals (RTLS) are proposed for each corner of the level crossing, with audible warning devices affixed to each nearside RTLS. 

Equipment for inside the railway fence line would be used to control the level crossing, and painted green which Network Rail say would “reduce visual impact. 

“Rubber pyramid type trespass guards will be provided across the railway between the barriers for a minimum distance of 2.6m from the crossing surface as a deterrent against trespass.” 

Work on the Dimmocks Cote crossing is planned to start in mid-2023. 

The C3R project, costing £194m, aims to ensure more reliability and less maintenance for railway tracks in parts of the Anglia region. 

Network Rail say C3R intends to “achieve an extended life of the signalling systems, to improve the reliability of the assets and reduce failures, subsequent delays to services and maintenance costs. 

“This proposed development for the signalling system includes the installation of new signals, associated control and power apparatuses.”