ProRail, the Dutch national rail infrastructure manager, has installed an active flashing warning to counter the risk of traffic blocking back over the level crossing on the short length of road linking Dordrecht’s Crayensteynstraat and Halmaheiraplein.
Geplaatst door: reelander op 26 juli 2011

The flashing sign which activates when queuing traffic precludes a safe exit from the level crossing is seen by many as a positive step. However, there are those who maintain that there is an added risk of rear-end collisions when motorists approaching the level crossing from Crayensteynstraat stop abruptly when the sign activates independently of the lights and barriers protecting the level crossing. However, this suggests that the issue is motorists driving too close to the vehicle in front as they should be able to stop without colliding with the vehicle in front.

ProRail has installed the traffic activated flashing warning sign because passive warning signs advising motorists that they should only cross when their exit is assured are too often ignored. ProRail has said that they have no plans to remove the active sign even though, from a motorist’s perspective, the sign is only seen peripherally in the first instance

(July 26th, 2011)

Network Rail, Britain’s national rail infrastructure manager has initiated consultation with the trades unions representing signalling staff in respect of the company’s long term train control strategy.

The strategy relates to planned investment between 2014 and 2029 and provides for the consolidation of signalling, and by extension level crossing control from 800 signal boxes into 14 regional centres.

The driver for the strategy is the cost savings possible through elimination of staff. The economics of the case are attractive with an additional investment of GBP 1.1 billion needed to generate annual cost savings of GBP 200 million per year by 2029 and GBP 250 million by 2044.

(July 22nd, 2011)

The trial in Victoria of a system that transmits a warning when a train is approaching a level crossing to alert road vehicle drivers via the radios fitted in their vehicles when they are similarly approaching a level crossing  (LXinfo April 2011) is being observed with interest by Queensland Rail (QR).

Were the alert system to be adopted, all crossings would be equipped to broadcast an alert when a train is detected as approaching. Likewise, all sound systems fitted to motor vehicles would need to be modified to receive the alert and relay it to the driver regardless of the status of the equipment at the time the alert is received.

NFA Innovations, the company developing the alert system has been quoted as saying that the costs of the system would be approximately AUD 4,000 per level crossing. The suggested cost to motorists has been quoted to be AUD 40 per vehicle.

The potential of the radio alert system is but one strand of QR’s commitment to considering all solutions to the perennial problem of level crossing collisions. This commitment follows the collision between a passenger train and a light truck on a level crossing near Bambaroo on July 11th, 2011 (qv).

(July 13th, 2011)

Although the trial of photo-enforcement cameras only began in the Western Cape at the end of June 2011, it now seems certain that further cameras will be installed at higher-risk level crossings across the Province. The first cameras have been installed at the White Road level crossing in Retreat. Now plans are being developed to install cameras at five level crossings identified by a task force established by Robin Carlisle, the provincial Transport Minister, which has been established to come up with solutions to counter the risks arising at level crossings.

The cameras at the White Road level crossing have been sourced from Syntell, the company which is also the supplier of speed cameras used in and around Cape Town. Images captured by the cameras are reviewed by Cape Town Traffic Services, which will also issue fines. However, first the basis of the offences to be policed by the cameras has to be determined by the National Prosecuting Authority and the arrangements for the custody of the images obtained. Informal review of images gathered to date has identified a significant level of abuse of the requirements for the safe use of level crossings.

(July 13th, 2011)