Rail group blasts Network Rail

2:29pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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RAILWAY campaigners have blasted Network Rail for carrying out work at Dalton station, which has widened an "already dangerous" gap between the platform and trains, reports Paul Duncan.

According to the Furness Line Action Group (FLAG), contractors acting on behalf of Network Rail have carried out repairs to the edging stone on the platform, which has lowered the surface by around six millimetres.

Last year, a FLAG survey found that the gap between the train and Barrow-bound platform had caused numerous injuries to customers alighting at Dalton and concluded that many potential passengers, including those with small children in pushchairs and elderly people, were being put off using the station.

FLAG chairman Allan Ball said that in the light of the survey, the latest situation "added insult to injury".

"Sometimes we think we can complain all we want and we get completely ignored. The sad thing is that someone is going to die unless something happens. Network Rail are aware of the situation and we will hope they will get in touch with the contractors and get it put right," said Mr Ball.

According to FLAG, the problem with the platform at Dalton had been ongoing for many years and needed major funding to rectify from various agencies, including Northern Rail, Network Rail and Cumbria County Council.

Keith Lumley, of Network Rail, confirmed that some work had been carried out to the edging stones on the platform and said that because the new stones were thinner than the existing ones, they had been packed with extra cement and the problem may have been caused during the "setting of the cement."

He also said a representative from Network Rail was due to travel to Barrow and would look at the situation at Dalton en route.