Missed trains misery as subway closed

Passengers have complained of missing their trains while barriers are down during the Tipton tunnel works.

Works are ongoing at the Owen Street subway at Tipton level crossing, which was closed on June 15 so work on the new underpass could take place.

Since then, pedestrians have been using the level crossing to cross the railway.

However, commuters are now complaining they are missing trains because the barriers are down for so long, and some are even risking their lives by jumping the barriers.

Sandwell councillor Roger Horton said: "At long last, we've got the tunnel being built but the complaints that I'm getting are that they have closed the pedestrian access off. That's the only crossing point to get from platform one to platform two.

"The complaints I've had is, people are turning up 10 minutes before their train is due, the crossing gates are down and they can't get to the other platform, so they are missing their trains."

During the closure, approach ramps to the subway are being reconstructed to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

The subway is due to reopen to pedestrians in October 2009.

Rachel Blackman of Network Rail said: "When we first closed it, we put advice out telling people to leave extra time.

"It really is a case, just for the next few weeks, of doing that.

"In the long run, they are going to have a new underpass, so no-one will have to use that level crossing at all. It's short-term pain for long-term gain."