IN relation to the headline “Solutions to rail crossing traffic woes proposed” (D&S Times, Dec 2) about the situation in Northallerton, I think there is a risk of spending a great deal of taxpayers’ money resulting in disruption while a flyover is built and a disappointing result.

The comment that there are 40 passengers and between 30-40 freight trains using Low Gates level crossing per day is inaccurate as steel and coal traffic has significantly declined.

Data from opentraintimes.com shows the number of daytime freight trains (7am- 7pm) being around 10 and not 30 to 40. The number of freight trains at Low Gates has reduced, but road traffic congestion appears to have increased.

In my view it is not the level crossings that are causing the problem, it is the recent increase in road traffic.

If scarce taxpayers’ money is to be spent and we suffer disruption in Northallerton during the building, then it is essential the actual cause of the congestion is identified.

Adrian Caltieri, Northallerton

THE rail crossing fiasco is the curse of Northallerton, and it has been steadily worsening over the last 60 years that I have had to put up with it (D&S Times, Dec 2).

This problem was discussed at some length a year or so by the now defunct Allertonshire Civic Society, and one of the members, John Parkinson, after a great deal of work, produced a technically viable alternative route to move the Teesside branch line junction to a position north of Northallerton station and re-join the existing branch line to the north of Brompton.

This solution should also include restoring the four line rail track through Northallerton, but which, however, may not now be possible on account of the recent somewhat questionable planning approvals granted for housing development adjacent to the East Coast Line.

Naturally the cost of this proposal would be greater than any other proposal which has so far been thought of, but it is the only one which solves the problem. Without such a solution Northallerton, will never progress properly.

John Bailey, Northallerton