Buttington Level Crossing, Powys

Описание: Date filmed: 13/10/2021
Video filmed at 14:56

Route: The Cambrian Line
Welshpool is the closest station.

Location: A458 Buttington Cross, Buttington
Trains:
2 Class 158s (Transport For Wales) - 1:15
1I20 Aberystwyth ➡ Birmingham International

Welcome to Wales / Croeso i Gymru! This was the first level crossing I properly filmed for the channel in Wales.

A level crossing with two automatic half barriers located on the very busy A458, one of the main arterial routes connecting England with North Wales, just outside of Welshpool. The location here is very scenic around this level crossing, which has two fairly long half barriers and two loud alarms. If you listen closely, you'll hear what's probably one of the faultiest and strangest-sounding alarms around coming from the alarm on the other side of this level crossing. As seen in an end-of-video picture, the alarm is missing a screw from the front, and has had holes drilled into its underside (pretty much an open invitation for water to get in and damage the electronics). This alarm has since been replaced, though, twice...

The train was travelling rather slowly in this video, and took longer to arrive and pass compared to what's typically expected at level crossings like this. The pattern of passing traffic here seemed very unusual at the time of my visit, as in some moments, there was quite a gap between passing vehicles, but in the next moment a long stream of traffic would pass - possibly due to the road's incredibly busy nature and very long single-carriageway sections. With typically around only 18 trains per day, it could be said that quite a proportion of this level crossing's users would either rarely or never see it activate.

Thanks for watching!