MINEHEAD’S new £1.2 million Seaward Way level crossing was finally officially approved for use on Tuesday when the Government’s Office of Road and Rail issued a Level Crossing Order which will allow West Somerset Railway trains to use Minehead station for the first time for two years.

But only training and maintenance trains will be allowed to use the crossing until next spring when public services to Minehead will be resumed from other parts of the 20-mile line.

A spokesman said the new state-of-the art double barrier crossing was totally different to the one it replaced and training for drivers, guards and signal staff needed to be carried out before the line could be re-opened to the public.

“The WSR is looking forward to restoring its usual services to Minehead and understands and apologises for any disappointment some local people will feel about this, but the railway had no choice in following this approach,” he said.

The main contractors, Amey, handed back the crossing to West Somerset Railway on October 18 after working into the small hours of the previous night to complete the job.

The WSR spokesman said: “As is normal with a project of this size there were some minor ‘snagging’ issues to complete, mainly to do with adjustments to fencing and notices. The Amey workforce are to be congratulated on a very professional job, done on time, mainly working nights so as to avoid significant traffic disruption.”

The Level Crossing Order was granted after final adjustments to the CCTV which controls the crossing from the station signal-box and testing of other operational safety systems. It is now fully authorised for use.

The new crossing, mainly financed by Somerset County Council, was first mooted three years ago when it was found that the existing half-barrier, controlled automatically by trains, was worn out and could fail, causing a dangerous situation.