Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Dave Thompson is meeting the Transport Minister today to discuss the installation of barriers at dangerous level crossings following the recent tragic accident at a level crossing in Caithness.

Dave Thompson has campaigned for better safety at level crossings in the Highlands following incidents at Bunchrew, near Inverness and Dingwall. He said Network Rail needed to restore public confidence after several recent accidents.

He added: "There is no doubt that these sort of accidents need to be investigated very thoroughly to find out exactly what the cause was and it will be some time I would imagine before we know just why this happened.

"What we have to do is make sure that every crossing is as safe as possible and if that means putting barriers on them, then that is what we should look seriously at doing.

"My understanding is that these barriers would cost about £1m a time which is a lot of money. But at the end of the day, if we want to save lives, if that would help to save lives, then that is the road we have to go down."