2016 Q5 Attempt for review (new station b4 LC)

[Alan Beavers]

I attempted 2016 Q5 for practice (new station proposed before automatic crossing); the IRSE give a sample answer which was very different to mine, so I thought I would submit mine for review on here.
Done in exam conditions-ish but typed so might struggle to get same down in pen.
Regards
Alan

[Jerry1237]

a) probably beneficial to mention what crossing and what administration you are referring to when quoting "standard" times. Would suggest "is clear of" rather than departs the crossing to avoid ambiguity.
b) first statement cannot be made as no reference to line speed has been made, just time. Stopping/non-stopping good. Talk of abuse but why would there be more traffic? The question (for part C) is asking for hazards and risks to be generated. Clearly the 100m is important and crossing abuse is a modern topic of discussion. Think you have the bones of the answer not nine marks worth.
c) not all auto crossings have protecting signals! One would be move the station elsewhere (it is not built yet and cheaper than shifting a crossing or building a bridge. Lower speed, rural route for example, could also solve the problem for all trains of make sure all trains stop and potentially have a treadle just beyond the platform or a trigger button for the train crew on the station.
d) Don't forget the railway, FOC, TOC, Unions...