Pedestrian lights finally working & new alarms at Canterbury (St. Stephens) Level Crossing, Kent

Date filmed: 19/10/2023
Videos filmed at: 13:12 | 13:19 | 13:32

Route: Ashford to Ramsgate Line
– Canterbury West is the closest station

Crossing type: Manually Controlled Barrier crossing with CCTV (MCB-CCTV)

Location: St. Stephen’s Road, Canterbury
Trains featured:
Lowering 1 (0:00):
375 819 & 375 624 (Southeastern) – 0:50
2R30 London Charing Cross ➡ Ramsgate | On-time
–
Lowering 2 (1:19):
395 007 (Southeastern) – 2:53
1J37 Margate ➡ St. Pancras International | On-time
–
Lowering 3 (3:16)
1) 2 Class 375s (Southeastern) – 4:00
2W44 Ramsgate ➡ London Charing Cross | On-time

2) 395 021 (Southeastern) – 4:27
1J32 St. Pancras International ➡ Margate

One of two busy level crossings located in the city of Canterbury, Kent, either side of Canterbury West station on the Ashford to Ramsgate Line. Since my previous visit to this level crossing in January, the four LED pedestrian lights here have finally been commissioned and are operational after sitting there bagged up for around a whole year. The level crossing as a whole has also had a relative over-haul, as the bells have (sadly) been replaced by four increasingly-common and same-sounding E2S ‘Apello’ alarms, there are new ‘Keep Crossing Clear’ signs here, and the exit-side barriers now have a two-second time gap separating them lowering with the first pair being lowered. It very much behaves like a fully-renewed crossing now, minus the barriers, road traffic lights and supporting masts being re-used. It’s still controlled from just around the corner at the signal box above the tracks through Canterbury West Station. You can’t argue some form of new alarm was needed here, though, as only one bell used to work. The level crossing can be seen cycling three times in this video for four different passenger services running between London and Thanet.

Train details sourced from:
Real Time Trains: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/
Open Train Times: https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps
Traksy: https://traksy.uk/live

Thanks for watching!