Level crossing

A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level,[1] as opposed to the railway line crossing over or under using an overpass or tunnel. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion. Other names include railway level crossing,[1] railway crossing (chiefly international), grade crossing or railroad crossing (chiefly American),[2] road through railroad, criss-cross, train crossing, and RXR (abbreviated).

Most crossings in Europe and around the world are marked by some form of saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross, or crossbuck) to warn road users about a level crossing and/or about a level crossing with no barriers whatsoever. This cross is on a level crossing in Slovenia.
A level crossing at Hoylake, Merseyside, England, UK with a train passing
A railroad crossing in Abington, Massachusetts, US
A CRH380A train passing Shoupakou level crossing at Beijing, China
A level crossing in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a Minangkabau Airport Rail Link train passing

There are more than 100,000 level crossings in Europe and more than 200,000 in North America.

History
Level crossing in Senegal (2020)
A railroad crossing at Hanoi, Vietnam, with crossing lights, electric bells, and half-barrier gates in their open position

The history of level crossings depends on the location, but often early level crossings had a flagman in a nearby booth who would, on the approach of a train, wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear the tracks. Gated crossings became commonplace in many areas, as they protected the railway from people trespassing and livestock, and they protected the users of the crossing when closed by the signalman/gateman. In the second quarter of the 20th century, manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway started to be introduced, intended to be a complete barrier against intrusion of any road traffic onto the railway. Automatic crossings are now commonplace in some countries as motor vehicles replaced horse-drawn vehicles and the need for animal protection diminished with time. Full, half or no barrier crossings superseded gated crossings, although crossings of older types can still be found in places. In rural regions with sparse traffic, the least expensive type of level crossing to operate is one without flagmen or gates, with only a warning sign posted. This type has been common across North America and in many developing countries.

Some international rules have helped to harmonize level crossing. For instance, the 1968 Vienna Convention states (chapter 3, article 23b) that:

  • "one or two blinking red light indicates a car should stop; if they are yellow the car can pass with caution".[3]
  • Article 27 suggests stop lines at level crossings.
  • Article 33, 34, 35 and 36 are specific to level crossings, because level crossings are recognized as dangerous.
  • Article 35 indicates a cross should exist when there is no barrier or lights.

This has been implemented in many countries, including countries which are not part of the Vienna Convention.

Safety
Level crossing in Germany with an egg-shaped radar sensor for detecting obstacles on the crossing
A "stop, look, and listen" sign in Britain
A "stop, look, and listen" sign in Argentina

Trains have a much larger mass relative to their braking capability, and thus a far longer braking distance than road vehicles. With rare exceptions, trains do not stop at level crossings and rely on vehicles and pedestrians to clear the tracks in advance.

Level crossings constitute a significant safety concern internationally. On average, each year around 400 people in the European Union[4] and over 300 in the United States[5] are killed in level crossing accidents. Collisions can occur with vehicles as well as pedestrians; pedestrian collisions are more likely to result in a fatality.[6] Among pedestrians, young people (5–19 years), older people (60 years and over), and males are considered to be higher risk users.[7]

As far as warning systems for road users are concerned, level crossings either have "passive" protection, in the form of various types of warning signs, or "active" protection, using automatic warning devices such as flashing lights, warning sounds, and barriers or gates.[4] In the 19th century and for much of the 20th, a sign warning "Stop, look, and listen" (or similar wording) was the sole protection at most level crossings. Today, active protection is widely available, and fewer collisions take place at level crossings with active warning systems.[8] Modern radar sensor systems can detect if level crossings are free of obstructions as trains approach. These improve safety by not lowering crossing barriers that may trap vehicles or pedestrians on the tracks, while signalling trains to brake until the obstruction clears (however, they cannot prevent a vehicle from moving out onto the track once it's far too late for the locomotive to slow even slightly).[9]

At railway stations, a pedestrian level crossing is sometimes provided to allow passengers to reach other platforms in the absence of an underpass or bridge, or for disabled access. Where third rail systems have level crossings, there is a gap in the third rail over the level crossing, but this does not necessarily interrupt the power supply to trains since they may have current collectors on multiple cars.

Source: US Department of Transportation.[10] (1 mile=1.6 km)

Source: Eurostat: The rail accident data are provided to Eurostat by the European Railway Agency (ERA). The ERA manages and is responsible for the entire data collection. The Eurostat data constitute a part of the data collected by ERA and are part of the so-called Common Safety Indicators (CSIs). Note: Since 2010, use of national definitions is no longer permitted: 2010 CSI data represent the first fully harmonized set of figures

  • Source: Eurostat: Annual number of victims by type of accident [rail_ac_catvict] Last update: 09-02-2017
  • Source, Federal Railroad Administration[11]

Traffic signal preemption

Traffic signal-controlled intersections next to level crossings on at least one of the roads in the intersection usually feature traffic signal preemption.[12] Approaching trains activate a routine where, before the road lights and barriers are activated, all traffic signal phases go to red, except for the signal immediately after the crossing, which turns green (or flashing yellow) to allow traffic on the tracks to clear (in some cases, there are auxiliary traffic signals prior to the railroad crossing which will turn red, keeping new traffic from crossing the tracks. This is in addition to the flashing lights on the crossing barriers). After enough time to clear the crossing, the signal will turn. The crossing lights may begin flashing and the barriers lower immediately, or this might be delayed until after the traffic light turns red.

The operation of a traffic signal, while a train is present, may differ from municipality to municipality. In some areas, all directions will flash red, turning the intersection into an all-way stop. In other areas, the traffic parallel to the railroad track will have a flashing yellow for the duration of the train while the other directions face a flashing red light for the duration of the train. Still in other areas, the traffic parallel to the railroad track will have a green light for the duration of the train while the other directions face a red light for the duration of the train. Further still, in other areas traffic lights can operate relatively normally with only the blocked direction turning red for the duration of the train.

Crossing cameras

In France, cameras have been installed on some level crossings to obtain images to improve understanding of an incident when a technical investigation occurs.[13]

In England, cameras have been installed at some level crossings.[14][15]

In South Australia, cameras have been installed at some level crossings to deter non-compliance with signals.[16]

By country

Designs of level crossings vary country-to-country.

Major accidents
Amtrak train wreck in Bourbonnais, Illinois (US) in 1999 was attributed to a malfunction of the warning signals, with fatigue of the driver of a semi truck as a contributing factor.

Level crossings present a significant risk of collisions between trains and road vehicles. This list is not a definitive list of the world's worst accidents and the events listed are limited to those where a separate article describes the event in question.

Accident Deaths Country Year Ref.
Langenweddingen level crossing disaster 94 East Germany 1967
Amritsar train disaster 58 India 2018
Nagpur level crossing disaster 55 India 2005 [17]
Manfalut train accident 51 Egypt 2012 [18]
San Justo level crossing tragedy 48 Argentina 1984
Marhanets train and bus collision 45 Ukraine 2010 [19]
San Isidro level crossing disaster 44 Argentina 1948
Villa Soldati level crossing tragedy 42 Argentina 1962
Polgahawela level crossing accident 35 Sri Lanka 2005
Dorion level crossing accident 19 Canada 1966
2009 Slovak coach and train collision 12 Slovakia 2009 [20]
Flores rail crash 11 Argentina 2011 [21][22]
Bourbonnais train accident 11 United States 1999 [23]
Hixon rail crash 11 United Kingdom 1968 [24]
Kerang rail accident 11 Australia 2007 [25]
Glendale train crash 11 United States 2005 [26]
Lockington rail crash 9 United Kingdom 1986 [27]
Fox River Grove level crossing accident 7 United States 1995 [28]
Ufton Nervet rail crash 7 United Kingdom 2004 [29]
Ottawa bus–train crash 6 Canada 2013 [30]
Valhalla train crash 6 United States 2015 [31]
Gerogery level crossing accident 5 Australia 2001 [32]
2022 Missouri train derailment 4 United States 2022
Nosaby level crossing disaster 2 Sweden 2004

Runway crossings
The French sign warning of plane movements on or near the ground was changed in 1977 to comply with the Vienna convention.

Aircraft runways sometimes cross roads or rail lines, and require signaling to avoid collisions.

Australia
  • Kingsford Smith Airport had a runway crossing, when that runway was extended. The railway was later deviated with sharp curves to avoid that runway.
  • Cootamundra West, while not having an actual runway crossing, had extra low signals and telegraph wires at the railway station to improve safety for low flying aircraft landing or taking off.[33]
  • Burnie Airport had a runway crossing over the 05/23 Runway. This crossing was built over the railway line when the airfield was constructed, and has since been decommisioned with the closing of both the railway line and the 05/23 runway. [34]

Gibraltar
Intersection in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar

Winston Churchill Avenue intersects the runway of Gibraltar International Airport at surface level; movable barricades close when aircraft land or take off.

Madagascar
A train crosses the runway in Manakara, Madagascar

The Fianarantsoa-Côte Est railway crosses the runway at Manakara Airport. It is one of the few airports in the world that crosses an active railway line.

New Zealand

A level crossing near Gisborne, sees the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line cross one of Gisborne Airport's runways. Aircraft landing on sealed 1310-metre runway 14L/32R are signalled with two red flashing lights on either side of the runway and a horizontal bar of flashing red lights to indicate the runway south of the railway line is closed, and may only land on the 866 metres (2,841 ft) section of the runway north of the railway line. When the full length of the runway is open, a vertical bar of green lights signal to the aircraft, with regular rail signals on either side of the runway indicating trains to stop.[35][36]

Nicaragua

The runway of Ometepe Airport crosses the highway NIC-64.

Sweden

The Visby Lärbro Line between Visby and Lärbro crossed the runway of Visby Airport between 1956 and 1960.[37]

United Kingdom
  • Northern Ireland: There was a runway crossing on the Belfast–Derry railway line. The runway was interlocked with conventional railway block instruments to the control tower.
  • Scotland: Road crossing of (Shetland) A970 with Sumburgh Airport's runway.

See also
  • List of train accidents by death toll
  • List of road accidents
  • Pedestrian crossing
  • Warning sign
  • Whistle post
  • Wigwag
  • Occupation crossing

References
  1. VicRoads (26 August 2014). "Trains & level crossings". VicRoads. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  2. "Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Overview". Federal Railroad Administration. Department of Transportation. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. "RS 0.741.20 Convention du 8 novembre 1968 sur la signalisation routière (avec annexes)" [RS 0.741.20: Convention of 8 November 1968 on the road signals (with appendices)]. Swiss Federal Government Portal (in French) (11 December 1992 ed.). Vienna. 29 December 2016 [1968]. Retrieved 22 January 2019. Un feu rouge clignotant; ou deux feux rouges, clignotant alternativement, dont l'un apparaît quand l'autre s'éteint, montés sur le même support à la même hauteur et orientés dans la même direction signifient que les véhicules ne doivent pas franchir la ligne d'arrêt ou, s'il n'y a pas de ligne d'arrêt, l'aplomb du signal; ces feux ne peuvent être employés qu'aux passages à niveau [et dans certaines autres circonstances]...un feu jaune clignotant ou deux feux jaunes clignotant alternativement signifient que les conducteurs peuvent passer, mais avec une prudence particulière.
  4. Cirovic, G.; Pamucar, D. (2012). "Decision support model for prioritizing railway level crossings for safety improvements: Application of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy system". Expert Systems with Applications. 40 (6): 2208–2223. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2012.10.041.
  5. Mok, Shannon C; Savage, Ian (1 August 2005). "Why Has Safety Improved at Rail-Highway Grade Crossings?" (PDF). Risk Analysis. 25 (4): 867–881. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00642.x. PMID 16268935. S2CID 5744697.
  6. Australian Transport Safety Bureau (2004). "Level crossing accident fatalities". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Lloyd's Register Rail (2007). "Study of pedestrian behaviour at public railway crossings". Public Transport Safety Victoria.
  8. Federal Railroad Administration (2006). "Railroad safety statistics: 2005 annual report". Federal Railroad Administration, Washington D.C.
  9. "Honeywell Radar Scanner, Advantages & Benefits" (PDF). Honeywell Regelsysteme GmbH. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  10. https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/tsass2003.pdf
  11. "Collisions & Casualties by Year | Operation Lifesaver".
  12. Section 4D.13 and Section 8D.07 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
  13. rapport d'enquête technique sur la collision entre un train Transilien et un véhicule léger survenue le 15 septembre 2019 sur le passage à niveau n° 8 à Roissy-en-Brie (77)
  14. "Cameras installed at level crossing to catch motorists breaking the law". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. "Level crossings - everything you need to know | RAC Drive". www.rac.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  16. "2011–12 budget papers: Transport, Energy and Infrastructure: Targets 2011−12" (PDF). South Australian Government. p. 112. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  17. "India train crash deaths reach 55". BBC. 4 February 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  18. Blair, Edmund (17 November 2012). "UPDATE 5-Train ploughs into school bus in Egypt, 50 killed". Reuters. Thomson Reuters.
  19. "Ukraine train and bus collision kills 42". BBC. 12 October 2010.
  20. "Slovak bus-rail crash 'kills 11'". BBC. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  21. "Al Menos Once Muertos y 228 Heridos en la Mayor Tragedia con Trenes en la Ciudad en Casi 50 Años". Clarín (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  22. "Argentina Bus and Trains Crash Killing at Least 11". BBC. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  23. "Driver Sentenced in Deadly Amtrak Crash". WMAQ TV Chicago. NBC. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 19 January 2006.
  24. Ministry of Transport (1968). Report of the Public Inquiry into the Accident at Hixon Level Crossing on January 6, 1968. HMSO. ISBN 978-0-10-137060-8. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  25. Oake, Dan; Doherty, Ben; Webb, Carolyn; Guerrera, Orietta (5 June 2007). "11 die in train crash". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
  26. Simmons, Ann M. (21 August 2008). "Metrolink killer is sentenced to 11 life terms in prison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  27. British Railway Disasters. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. 1996. ISBN 978-0-7110-2470-0.
  28. "Driver says light did not turn green - October 27, 1995". CNN. 27 October 1995. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  29. "Seven train crash dead are named". BBC. 8 November 2004. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  30. "5 dead in Ottawa train-bus collision". CNN International. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  31. "Metro-North Crash Kills 7 in Worst Accident of Railroad's History - February 3, 2015". The New York Times. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  32. Kerr, Joseph (14 May 2004). "Riding a slow train to nowhere". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  33. "Cootamundra West Station". RailCorp.
  34. "Wynyard Airport Railway Crossing". Airways Museum.
  35. "Gisborne (NZGS) aerodrome diagram" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  36. "Gisborne (NZGS) Operational Signal Lights" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. 4 September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  37. "Driftplatser som ingår i bandel 660". Retrieved 19 April 2017.

Bibliography
  • Hall, Stanley; van der Mark, Peter (2008). Level Crossings. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-3308-5.

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