West Melbourne, Victoria: Green for stop, red for go?

The Footscray Road level crossing in West Melbourne, Victoria is protected by a set of traffic lights rather than the more usual controls found at an active level crossing. However, on December 30th, 2008 this was of little comfort to road users who received a green aspect at the same time as a train was approaching the level crossing. Indeed, as the train passed through the level crossing the traffic lights continued to change from green, through orange and on to red again.

David Marchant, Chief Executive of the rail infrastructure manager, ARTC, said the failure was "a very unusual event" believed to be caused by a computer problem which is subject

  

to a full investigation. Mr Marchant added "A crossing keeper activated the press-button device installed there to bring the traffic lights to red. They were activated and they did go red but, for some reason unknown to any of us the traffic lights appeared to change back to green and go back through the cycle again”.

 

(December 31st, 2008)

Wellington, New Zealand: Reminder to drive safely

Kiwi Rail Group has reminded motorists and pedestrians to take care around level crossings over the extended Christmas – new year holiday period when level crossing accidents typically peak. William Peet, Acting Chief Executive said “one of the best gifts [rail] staff could receive this Christmas would be a collision free holiday period. Hitting a car at a level crossing is a traumatic experience for train drivers. They are often the forgotten victim in these incidents".

So far in 2008, there have been 19 public road level crossing collisions involving vehicles. This is down on the total of 23 for 2007.Additionally, there have been five collisions involving pedestrians in 2008.


Source Kiwi Rail logo

(December 23rd, 2008)

Melbourne, Victoria: Road Safety Committee reports, makes 44 recommendations

Victoria’s parliamentary Road Safety Committee, published its report into safety at level crossings on December 18th, 2008, making 44 recommendations. In launching the report Mr John Eran, chair of the committee made clear that more needs to be done to improve safety at level crossings across Victoria.

Importantly, the committee has recognised that the cost of upgrading each and every public and private level crossing in Victoria may not be affordable. Ideally, all crossings should either be grade separated with a bridge or underpass, or designed and maintained to recognised standards, and equipped with flashing lights and boom barriers. However, due to the high cost of engineering works and highly specified warning systems, it is not feasible, especially in rural areas where crossing use is low, for the Government to allocate funds for a total system upgrade.

Accordingly, “This strongly points to the need for leadership in a new direction. A new direction that includes using lower cost warning systems and Intelligent Transport Systems, and a strategy that brings all the measures together is required“, said Mr Eren.

Mr Eren said “While the report recommends trialling of new technologies, there are simple measures that could be implemented immediately that the Committee believe will improve safety”.

  • Decreasing speed limits to 80 kph on all open roads
  • Increasing enforcement by placing cameras at some of the worst sites
  • Ensuring that the trains are kept in pristine condition so that road users can see the reflectors, the colours and markings on the trains are bright and highly visible, that extra lighting be considered

These improvements will, said Mr Eran “go a long way to improving safety”.

Of particular concern to the Committee are the 1,087 public passive crossings in regional and rural Victoria. A central thesis in the report is that collisions and the fatalities and other injuries which result at these crossings are caused, in the main, by the failure of drivers and pedestrians to detect approaching trains, or if the train is detected, to ignore or not to comprehend the risk of a collision.  The report also says that if there is no safety technology at these crossings to warn users of approaching trains, or if the crossings are poorly designed or maintained, the task of the driver or pedestrian to make a judgement about whether it is safe to cross, can be very difficult.

One measure to improve safety at crossings is to introduce lower cost technology that could potentially increase safety at crossings. However, the report argues to date, consideration of these measures has been rejected by Victoria’s government and the rail infrastructure managers, as they are not considered to be “fail-safe”.

 

The Committee as does Public Transport Safety Victoria (the rail safety regulator) consider that technologies which would improve safety at level crossings should not automatically be discounted. The state government and rail infrastructure managers have a duty of care to protect the community which obliges them to consider how these measures might improve safety if they are, despite not being intrinsically “fail-safe” very reliable .

Thus, the Committee considers that lower-cost warning technology should be used as a supplement to existing controls, particularly at passive crossings. These lower-cost warning systems should not be used as a replacement or substitute for highly specified, “fail-safe” level crossing controls at active crossings.

Two further measures which do not require technology but could nevertheless be introduced immediately are programmes, funded by the state government, to close redundant level crossings and to reduce the road speed limit on the approach to level crossings.

The report recognises that the state government has been preparing a level crossing safety strategy to guide decision making and the allocation of resources. According to the Committee, the strategy should be developed by June 2009 and foreshadow a significant increase in funding for Victoria’s level crossing upgrade programme to address, in a reasonable time frame, the many safety issues identified in a survey of level crossings completed by the Victoria Department of Transport in 2007. There may, the report says also be value in examining more cost-effective ways of upgrading level crossings.

The report makes clear that unless redundant level crossings are closed, or new, lower-cost technical controls are implemented, it will be many decades before safety at level crossings in Victoria can be improved.

To view the complete report, including the 44 recommendations made by Victoria’s parliamentary Road Safety Committee go to
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc/Crossings/lc_default.html

The opposition Liberal party has responded to the report with Shadow Minister for Public Transport, Terry Mulder saying it “is a wake up call”, adding that the state government should “immediately implement the report's recommendations and provide necessary funding”.

Of immediate concern, said Mr Mulder, “is to change the colour of Victoria's rural rail passenger rolling stock to make it more conspicuous, and to implement a trial of locomotive strobe lighting”.

The opposition response to the report added “Implementing an 80 kph road speed limit at level crossings will only work if it is supported by additional police resources”. However, Mr Mulder said that “installing cameras at level crossings would only be effective in built-up areas as they would be prone to vandalism in remote, non-metropolitan locations”.

(December 19th, 2008)

Taranaki, New Zealand: Rail sector calls for tougher penalties

Two level crossing accidents in close succession have led rail authorities to argue that tougher penalties are needed for those who endanger safety on the railway through abuse of level crossings or otherwise end up on the railway.

The first of the Taranaki collisions occurred on December 16th, 2008 when a car was hit by a train near the Waverley racecourse as a result of getting bogged down in loose material within the railway’s swept envelope.

  

The second accident happened the following day when a local elderly man drove onto the passive level crossing at the intersection of Flint and Mountain roads in Stratford where his vehicle was hit by an oncoming train. The car driver was injured.

These accidents led Kiwi Rail to call for the police to always take action against those who deliberately put themselves and those who use the railway at risk.

(December 17th, 2008)

Christchurch, New Zealand: vandals endanger safety

Late night vandalism in the small hours of Friday December 12th, 2008 damaged both a train and level crossing. The vandals placed two lengths of rail across the line which, when struck by a freight train, were knocked onto the adjacent Bligh’s Road level crossing in Bryndwr, Christchurch taking out the crossing’s control cabinet and a barrier.

  

(December 12th, 2008)

Canberra, ACT:  Crossing safety transcends road - rail rivalry

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) announced on December 11th, 2008 that they are joining forces to promote safety at level crossings, ATA chairman, Trevor Martyn and ARA Chief Executive, Bryan Nye said.

The ARA has contributed AU$65,000 to fund a display that will educate industry and communities about safety on railway level crossings. The display will form part of the ATA’s travelling exhibition trailer, the Road Ahead.

The Road Ahead is a state-of-the-art semi-trailer filled with interactive displays about road safety and the trucking industry. The trailer was launched in May 2008 and since then it has attracted 18,000 visitors from schools and communities all over Australia.

Mr Martyn said the ATA and ARA see the promotion of level crossing safety as a crucial message that needs to be heard by all road users and pedestrians.

“We will be working together to make sure that truck drivers, motorists, pedestrians and school children all understand the importance of level crossing safety as the exhibition trailer continues to tour throughout 2009 and beyond, Mr Martyn said.

“The display will highlight the simple rules that motorists and truck drivers can follow to protect their safety at level crossings” Mr Martyn said.

Mr Martyn also said that in addition to driver education, the road and rail sectors would continue to press [state] governments to upgrade thousands of levels crossings.

“Upgrades could include the installation of rumble strips and reducing signage clutter so the key safety warnings stand out, improving lines of sight by removing trees and other obstacles and installing active protections like flashing lights and boom gates on high risk crossings,” said Mr Martyn.

Chief Executive Officer of the ARA, Bryan Nye, thanked the ATA for the opportunity to work collaboratively on improving level crossing education adding “Level crossing safety is the rail industry’s highest safety priority. I believe this opportunity with the ATA is a positive step forward that will have wide-reaching benefits”.

Mr Nye said, “Whilst we may disagree on some transport issues, improving level crossing safety throughout Australia is a common goal for the rail and trucking industries”.

“I look forward to working with the ATA to boost level crossing safety around Australia and seeing this level crossing project come to life,” Mr Nye concluded.

(December 11th, 2008)

  

Source ATA


Source ARA

Source ATA


Source ATA

Queensland: Level crossings “should be top priority”

As is often the case, political fall-out from an accident comes before independent investigation to establish root causes is complete. The November 27th, 2008 collision in Northern Queensland (LXinfo December 2008) is no exception with opposition parliamentarians speaking on the floor of the State’s Parliament.

Andrew Cripps the Member of Parliament for Hinchinbrook in whose constituency the accident occurred, did on December 2nd, 2008 call for the statewide elimination of level crossings at least on major roads and elsewhere where justifiable. In making the call for serious consideration of level crossing closures, the issue of finite funding for transport safety initiatives and the need for prioritisation was recognised.

Mr Cripps suggested “that on the issue of level crossing safety we are behind, given the attention that it has been given by national transport authorities for several years”. In asking the Minister how Queensland might catch up he added “I believe Queenslanders have indicated their express wish that this occur and that they believe that this issue is a priority”.

Mr Cripps concluded by reiterating his commitment to work with federal and state authorities to secure funding for grade separation at the crossing where the accident occurred on November 27th, 2008 and elsewhere.

(December 10th, 2008)

  


Andrew Cripps, source Queensland Parliament


Melbourne, Victoria: AU$38b transport plan includes AU$100m for level crossings

Victoria’s Premier, John Brumby, unveiled his governmnet’s multi-year transport plan to 2020 on Monday December 8th, 2008. The plan which has a AU$38b price tag includes AU$100m to be spent on level crossing safety across the State.

  

(December 9th, 2008)

Sunshine, Victoria: Traffic blocking back causes accident

A truck driver entered a level crossing on Anderson Road, Sunshine, Victoria even though congestion ahead meant that his exit was impeded. When the automatic half barrier crossing closed for an approaching train the trailer of the articulated truck was foul of the railway and was struck by an oncoming freight train. The accident which happened on December 9th, 2008 during the afternoon peak travel period did not cause injury but seriously impacted on road and rail traffic through the rush hour and into the evening.

  

Yet again, the application of common sense would have seen the truck driver stop before the crossing until satisfied that he might safely cross without stopping foul of the railway.

To view the Anderson Road level crossing in context on Google Earth™ go to coordinates 37° 46’ 54.57” S / 144° 49’ 40.53” E.

(December 9th, 2008)

Canberra, ACT: National Road Safety Action Plan for 2009 & 2010

Although the Australian Transport Council’s National Road Safety Action Plan for 2009 and 2010 is light on detail it contains appropriate “in principle” references to the importance of improving level crossing safety across the country. This is achieved by referencing the National Railway Level Crossing Safety Strategy as a supporting plan.

  

The full document can be found at: http://www.atcouncil.gov.au/documents/pubs/ATC
actionplan0910.pd

(December 8th, 2008)

Melbourne, Victoria: Notorious crossing to be eliminated

Victoria’s state government has confirmed that the heavily used level crossing on Springvale Rd, Nunawading, Melbourne is to be grade separated. The project will see the railway line lowered to pass under the highway and a new Nunawading railway station constructed. The project announced on December 8th, 2008 will be completed during 2010. The Commonwealth Government has committed AU$80m towards the project to achieve grade separatation at Springvale Road.

At present 50,000 vehicles and 218 trains traverse the level crossing to give a traffic moment of 10,900,000!

  

To view the current layout on Google Earth™, go to coordinates 37° 49’ 13.85 S / 145° 10’ 32.32” E.

The Springvale Road project is the first within the AU$440m investment announced by the state government to reduce urban congestion by eliminating a number of level crossings across Melbourne, the Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, and the Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, said today.

(December 8th, 2008)

Brisbane, Queensland: Photo-enforcement on the way?

Queensland’s Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, The Honourable John Mickel has announced that the case for photo-enforcement at level crossings is being considered. This is in light of a trial of CCTV cameras at a barrier equipped level crossing in Brisbane earlier in 2008.

The trial installation on Boundary Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane where the closed circuit television cameras had been installed has exposed poor motorist behaviours which have now led Queensland Rail to examine the case for installation off CCTV cameras at other level crossings, with the possible inclusion of red light photo-enforcement cameras as well.

Mr Mickel said that QR had found "Motorists were entering the crossing while the warning lights were flashing, and some ended up queuing across the crossing during peak traffic periods." He added "Other motorists were more determined to ignore the flashing lights and lowered boom gates, and deliberately tried to drive around them”.

More worryingly the Transport Minister reported that QR had found "In a number of cases, vehicles struck and damaged the boom gates in trying to get through the crossing”.

The cameras were installed on either side of the crossing to monitor and identify patterns of driver behaviour and although quantitative data is not available, anecdotally the cameras can be associated with a positive impact on motorist behaviours. In the trial the images from the cameras were relayed to QR’s operations centre in order that train drivers might be alerted to blocking back and other errant behaviour.

  

The next step is for QR to consult with the Police and other agencies about the case for further CCTV surveillance of level crossings and potentially the introduction of red light photo-enforcement cameras in Queensland.

Mr Mickel recognised that "Red light cameras involve more complex technical and operational requirements, and their suitability for use at level crossings will be discussed with police. The red light cameras would enable motorists who broke the law by not stopping level crossing flashing lights to be issued with a traffic infringement notice."

Whatever the decision regarding CCTV and photo-enforcement cameras it is clear that QR plan to work more closely with police to conduct intensive enforcement drives at level crossing throughout Queensland.

By way of background, of the collisions on level crossings associated with QR infrastructure over the past seven years, 98% have been directly attributed to the road user. On average in Queensland there are 17 collisions each year at level crossings. Most recently, in 2007-2008 there were 16 with 12 of these occurring at active level crossings.

(December 8th, 2008)

Canberra, ACT: Level crossings research database

Australia’s CRC for Rail Innovation has published their “Level Crossings Research Database” report. This report was commissioned by the CRC for Rail Innovation to investigate the effectiveness of engineering, enforcement and education approaches to improving safety for motorists and rail users at the road/rail interface.

The project reviewed the literature relevant to each of these approaches, with particular emphasis on their relevancy to the Australian context. The literature review found that while there has been considerable research in the area of engineering at level crossings, there is little research in the areas of enforcement or educational initiatives.

  • The report also highlighted where future research opportunities lie. These include:
  • Further analysis of the role that familiarity plays in unsafe driving at level crossings
  • An examination of the costs of crossing collisions when a heavy vehicle is involved
  • The impact of sighting distance and the effects of track angle on the road driver’s awareness of an oncoming train
  • Testing of heavy vehicle drivers with advanced warning systems to measure vehicle performance at crossings with limited sighting distances.

Early in 2009 the CRC team will involve industry road and rail safety experts across Australia in a workshop to evaluate which specific focuses and priorities need to be given to the future research into road user behaviour and effective countermeasures at level crossings.

  

This report should be on everybody’s must read list, if only for the really excellent list of references underpinning a thoughtful and thought provoking piece of research.

The report is available for download from the CRC for Rail Innovation’s website at:

www.railcrc.net.au

(December 8th, 2008)

 

Source CRC

Queensland: Exasperation with continuing level crossing abuse

Within a week of two train drivers losing their lives in a collision with a truck at Rungoo, near Cardwell (LXinfo December 2008); two near misses in a 24 hour period have led to a call for changed road user behaviours.

A clearly exasperated Lance Hockridge, Queensland Rail, Chief Executive pleaded on December 5th, 2008 for road users to exercise greater at level crossings. Mr Hockridge said “Despite all the publicity surrounding level crossing incidents in the past week, people are still not getting the message – it’s truly beyond belief.” He added “This reckless behaviour puts not only the motorists’ lives at risk but also the lives of our passengers and our staff.”

Highlighting motorist behaviour that is both selfish and dangerous, Mr Hockridge appealed to the community to heed QR’s safety messages before more lives are lost.

The near misses which prompted this further plea for changed behaviours around level crossing were at the

  • 14thStreet level crossing, near the Bruce Highway in Home Hill on December 4th, 2008. In this incident a Pacific National freight train is reported as having come within thirty metres of a car on the crossing which is of the active open type at which the lights were working correctly. To view the location of the incident on Google Earth™ go to coordinates 19° 39’ 31.21” S / 147° 24’ 36.01”
  • Currey Street level crossing in Roma which is near the junction with the Warrego Highway. This incident occurred on December 5th, 2008 when a passenger train and an articulated truck almost collided on the crossing which has a stop sign and railway warning signs. To view the location of the incident on Google Earth™ go to coordinates 26° 34’ 41.24” S / 148° 46’ 18.98” E.
  

In total, five people have died in collisions on level crossings on QR’s network in 2008 leading to Mr Hockridge reiterating that “QR takes every opportunity to reinforce the crucial safety message to prevent more tragedies occurring.” QR runs extensive community education campaigns to raise awareness of the need for care at level crossings, particularly where there are no barriers.

QR statistics show that of the level crossing collisions occurring on their infrastructure in the past seven years

  • 98% of collisions were directly attributable to the road user
  • 96% of collisions occur at public level crossings
  • 50% of collisions on average occur at active crossings with lights or lights and barriers.

QR is forming a taskforce of train drivers, safety experts and unions to fast track safety upgrades of level crossings throughout North Queensland. It is expected that QR will recommend funding of enhanced protection to the state’s joint level crossing safety committee.

(December 5th, 2008)

Canberra, ACT: Committee revisits level crossing safety

Australia’s federal government House of Representatives Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Committee has called for submissions on the issues raised in its 2004 report on train visibility and level crossing safety.

Inter-alia the 2004 report recommended rotating beacon lights and retro-reflective strips and paint fitted to trains to increase visibility to to those using level crossings.

It also called for rumble strips at high accident risk level crossings which are being taken forward on a large scale basis in Victoria and a national approach to risk ranking level crossings based on the Queensland model and adapted for local conditions.

The committee’s also suggested the Government look at an education-based model for level crossings used in Canada (Operation Lifesaver / Direction 2006).

  

The decision to revisit the report follows the November 2007 level crossing accident at Cardwell in Queensland in which two train drivers died (LXinfo December 2008). “This tragic accident highlights the need to re-examine what measures are being taken around Australia to improve safety at level crossings,” the committee said in a statement.

It is known that the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) will make a submission to the committee based on the concerns it has continually raised about the safety issues surrounding level crossings.

Submissions close on January 23rd, 2009

(December 1st, 2008)

Adelaide, South Australia: Crossing blackspot projects announced

South Australia’s Road Safety Minister, Carmel Zollo, has announced that 19 level crossing safety projects have been finalised between the State Government and the Local Government Association providing 11 local councils with AU$333,000 funding for improvement works.

The Level Crossing Black Spot program, launched in July this year, is one of a number of initiatives delivered by the State Government, in conjunction with local Councils, to improve level crossing safety on local roads. "This program has an exclusive focus on rail level crossings on the local road network and will primarily address sight distance, pedestrian safety, traffic queuing and lighting issues," Ms Zollo said.

"I am pleased to see that in our first year, Council's have shown great commitment to working with the State Government, identifying cost effective level crossing improvements. We look forward to building on this commitment in consultation with Councils in future years," Ms Zollo added.

Joy Baluch, President of the Local Government Association said she was pleased to see the number of rural and regional level crossings that will be upgraded under this initiative. "Improving visability by increased signage and removing line of sight impediments, increasing the number of lights and other safety measures will lead to a greater degree of security for people using rail level crossings," Ms Baluch added.

A panel assessed the nominations in October 2008, awarding funding to three metropolitan councils and eight regional councils.

Work will be undertaken at:

  • Woodside - Milan Terrace - Cricklewood Road - Installing a pedestrian crossing.
  • Balhannah - Daniel Road Balhannah -Installing a turning circle, signage and physical barriers.
 
  • Goolwa - Fenchurch Street - Installing a pedestrian crossing.
  • Goolwa - Oliver Street - Installing a pedestrian crossing.
  • Goolwa - Mindacowie Terrace - Installing a pedestrian crossing .
  • Goolwa - Gardiner Street - Installing pedestrian crossing.
  • Woodville - Queen St/Elizabeth Street - Narrowing the width of crossing, line marking, installing escape lane and formalising pedestrian crossing.
  • Port Lincoln - Verran Terrace - Installing yellow box linemarking and signage
  • Port Lincoln - Le Brun Street - Installing advance warning sign for heavy vehicle to detour.
  • Salisbury North - Commercial Rd - Installing vehicle escape lane, linemarking and road furniture.
  • Melrose - Port Flinders Causeway - Installing solar powered street light on north west of level crossing.
  • Tumby Bay - Lipson - Ungarra Road - Sealing approaches to the level crossing.
  • Kapunda - Gartrell Street - Replacing signage and linemarking
  • Kapunda - Parkers Road - Replacing signage and linemarking, vegetation trimming.
  • Kapunda - Twartz Road - Replacing signage and linemarking
  • Murray Bridge -Mannum Road -Installing a formalised pedestrian crossing
  • Murray Bridge - Cypress Terrace -Installing a formalised pedestrian crossing
  • Nuriootpa - Basedow Road - Installing a pedestrian crossing with tactile indicators, installing drainage works under rail crossing.
  • Prospect - Pym Street - Line-marking and signage work

The level crossing blackspot programme forms part of the state’s AU$3.2m budget allocation for level crossing safety in 2008 – 2009.

(November 28th, 2008)