NEW figures obtained by The Northern Echo have once again highlighted the scandalous state of Britain's crumbling railway bridge barriers.

The Railway Safety Group an industry body set up in the wake of the Selby rail disaster revealed that since the crash, nearly a year ago, 42 vehicles have ploughed through fencing over railway lines.

Twenty-seven vehicles ended up on the tracks, with three being struck by trains and one person being killed.

Campaigners say the figures add strength to calls for urgent action to improve safety at railway bridges across the region.

The Selby disaster happened after a Land Rover ended up on the East Coast main line. An investigation by The Northern Echo carried out shortly after wards revealed scores of crumbling barriers.

But a "who pays for what?" row means only a handful have been up-graded.

The latest figures were released by the Railway Safety Group, which said that, although the Selby tragedy was "exceptional", action was needed to prevent another "catastrophic accident".

Chairman Sir David Davies said that what was needed was "a regime of increasing understanding of safety issues and continuing to drive down the high-risk situations not a blame culture."

Meanwhile, the publication of a crucial report which is expected to issue clear guidance on how railway bridge barriers should be improved faces a lengthy delay.

The Highways Agency has completed a study of the issues surrounding barriers on road-over-rail bridges.

But its plans to publish the findings before the anniversary of the Selby tragedy February 28 are in jeopardy.

Legal advisors are concerned that civil actions could be launched against the agency because Gary Hart's Land Rover was able to plunge on to the railway line.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "There could be claims of civil liability matters arising out of the fact that a vehicle ended up on a railway line.

"If anyone makes a case that the Highways Agency was negligent, or has some culpability in the manner in which the vehicle concerned was able to leave the highway, that could be a problem."

The agency's report will consider the required standard of barriers on road-over-rail bridges.

Campaigners hope the report will also sort out the funding dispute between the agency, local authorities and Railtrack over who is responsible for improvements to barriers.

A separate report from the Health and Safety Commission is due to be ratified on February 12 and should go straight to ministers. But plans for the two studies to be released jointly are in danger of being abandoned.