The footpath level crossing at Woodgrange Close, on the c2c line between Southend East and Thorpe Bay, now has red and green warning lights and an audible alarm.

GBR Anglia, which brings c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail’s Anglia route together, announced on Thursday 22 October that the work was finished (Network Rail).

Until now the crossing had no active warning at all. People crossing had to stop, look and listen for trains themselves.

How the new system works

The equipment detects a train before it reaches the crossing. It then switches the light to red and sounds an alarm, telling pedestrians not to cross. Green means it is safe to go.

Network Rail says crossings upgraded in this programme have also had:

  • new gates and fencing
  • new crossing decks, the surface you walk over
  • CCTV, on all the most recent crossings

Its announcement does not say which of these were fitted at Woodgrange Close, or what the work cost.

Part of a wider programme

Woodgrange Close is one of two Essex crossings finished this month. The other is Spring Lane, between Hythe and Wivenhoe near Colchester, about 30 miles north of Southend.

Across the Anglia region, 56 crossings have had red and green lights fitted since 2018. Five more are due by the end of March 2027.

Shenel Bullock, head of level crossing safety at GBR Anglia, said: “The new red and green lights give pedestrians a clear message about when it is safe to cross. Although people still need to follow the instructions and cross with care, these upgrades provide an extra layer of protection.”

The railway launched a national level crossing safety campaign, No Second Chances, earlier this year. When it began, incidents of people misusing Anglia’s crossings had risen by more than 20% in a year, Network Rail said.

What it means for you

  • If you use the Woodgrange Close crossing, wait for the green light, even if you cannot see a train. Trains on this stretch run in both directions.
  • The lights add a warning; they do not replace the old rule. Network Rail still asks people to cross with care.
  • To report misuse or a fault at a crossing, call the Network Rail helpline on 03457 11 41 41. In an emergency, dial 999.

For this week’s train disruption after the Barking derailment, see our story and the Southend roadworks and travel page.