The problems that are occurring at Mill Green crossing and other locations are not the fault of Network Rail.
These failures are in brand new equipment made and installed by Siemens Electronics of Germany and therefore they must take the blame.
Delays in attending these problems are caused at times by the fact that crossing attendants and fault repair technicians are busy at other places.
In fact at one time Network Rail seconded in additional technicians from as far away as Shrewsbury due to the unprecedented number of faults with this Siemens electronic control equipment.
Not only have road users been inconvenienced but rail passengers have been stuck in trains in the countryside or have had their trains changed.
Coun Gary Porter has not got a clue about the complex electronics at level crossings or the rules for train working in the case of these problems.
But I would point out that crossing barriers must be lowered before signalling staff can clear signals before a train can proceed over crossings in Spalding and elsewhere.
Network Rail are not answerable to him or any other mere councillor over safety but to the Health and Safety Executive which is a government department.
As for his knowledge of operating railways, it is non-existent to the extent that it is deadly apparent that he could not be trusted to organise a derailment on a kiddies’ clockwork train set.
All he is doing is making noises to try to gain brownie points for his own greater glorification.
David Mead
Hawthorn Bank
Spalding
