London, United Kingdom: Level Crossing Interface Requirements

The Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB), the independent safety body of the main-line railway in Great Britain, published a new Railway Group Standard (RGS) which defines the requirements for level crossing systems at the interface between the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings (train operators. RGS GK/RT0192 issue 1 replaces RGS GI/RT7012 which is being withdrawn simultaneously.

The key objective of project to produce GK/RT0192 has been to identify the requirements that do not require co-operation at the duty holder interface and transfer them to the appropriate owner. As a consequence, GK/RT0192 is substantially smaller than GI/RT7012, which it replaces, because level crossing functionality is largely the sole responsibility of the infrastructure manager.

The RGS describes the required behaviour of level crossing systems in terms of the interface with railway undertakings, including the requirements for protecting signals, level crossing indications, level crossing telephones and any relevant controls provided for local operation by train crew.

As with all new Railway Group Standards in the Control Command and Signalling area, an accompanying guidance note GK/GN0692 has also been published, which sets out the rationale for each measure and describes existing good practice where appropriate. This is intended to help signalling projects understand why it is necessary to comply with GK/RT0192 and, where a proposal for deviation is considered necessary, develop the evidence to justify an alternative solution.

If you would like more information please contact Richard Barrow, at RSSB on 020 3142 5536 or email richard.barrow@rssb.co.uk

Washington, DC: April sees next steps in response to Railroad Safety Improvement Act 2008

An expanded and upgraded Grade Crossing Inventory and other steps to improve level crossing safety were key requirement of the Railroad Safety Improvement Act 2008 (RSIA) and April 16th, 2010 is the next deadline date set out in the act.

The latest deadline brings with it a requirement that the Federal Railroad Administration will propose model legislation for improving sight distance at level crossings and importantly require rail infrastructure managers to provide and maintain toll-free telephone lines for reporting level crossing problems. Additionally, railway companies must report sold crossings to FRA.

Already by October 16th, 2009 the (FRA) was mandated to require the ten states with the highest level crossing accident rates to develop action plans (LXinfo February 2010). By the same date railway infrastructure managers were required to submit level crossing inventories along with level crossing warning device inventories. In parallel the FRA was to evaluate and review state and local laws pertaining to railway and level crossing trespass.

Strictly the requirements shown against FRA are mandated upon the US Department of Transportation (USDoT). However, FRA is the USDoT agency which is working on these issues.