Clean Air Day Event at Westerfield Level Crossing

Clean Air Day is 19 June and train operator Greater Anglia is reminding drivers to switch off their engines at level crossings. To mark the event an action day was held at Westerfield level crossing with leaflets handed out to drivers in a bid to reduce pollution there.

Adopter volunteers from stations at Westerfield, Derby Road and Trimley – who work with Greater Anglia and the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership to improve their local station – hope to encourage car drivers to consider the houses and businesses adjacent to the level crossing at Westerfield station and switch off their engines to reduce pollution and noise.

Suffolk County Council, Greater Anglia, Network Rail, and Suffolk Idling Action and the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership have installed a permanent banner at the level crossing asking people to switch off their engines while they wait.

An idling engine can produce up to twice the emissions of a car in motion, churning out sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxide. All of these are thought to contribute to asthma, heart disease, and even lung cancer and have a negative effect on the environment by contributing to poor air quality.

There are more than 800 level crossings in East Anglia which are used by thousands of vehicles every day; a single idling car at a level crossing can fill up the equivalent of 150 balloons per minute with exhaust fumes.

Sandy Burn, who volunteers at the Westerfield station said:

“When you get a queue of cars and they are all running their engines on a small street surrounded by houses, it is extremely unpleasant in terms of the nasty fumes and the noise.

“It would be wonderful if people could take note of our campaign and be more considerate of those around them when they are sitting in traffic. It may not seem worth switching off the engine just for a few seconds, but I can assure them it really would make a huge difference.”

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said:

“We are pleased to support this action day at Westerfield for Clean Air Day which will remind people of the importance of switching off engines while stationary at level crossings.

“Rail is the most environmentally friendly form of transport after cycling and walking, so an even better option would be to leave the car at home and take the train instead.”

The action day at Westerfield also coincides with Better Transport Week, a national campaign which aims to celebrate and promote the benefits of sustainable transport options like public transport, walking, cycling, and car sharing. It encourages more people to choose these alternatives, highlighting how they connect communities, benefit the environment, and improve overall well-being.

This year the theme for the week is how better transport can help connect communities and bring people together.