London, United Kingdom: Improving road user and pedestrian behaviour at level crossings

Publication of this project – T335 in the Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB) research catalogue – and its associated web based tool found at www.lxrmtk.com was reported in LXinfo’s December 2008 edition.

Already, Network Rail, Britain’s national rail infrastructure manager, is using the toolkit to support its review of higher-risk level crossings. Also, as the primary user of the tool, Network Rail has recently asked RSSB to update the input data to take account of the most recent safety performance at level crossings.

  


(December 23rd, 2008)

London, United Kingdom: “Another train coming” warnings

Around the world there is much interest in addressing accidents where users take a decision to proceed when a train passes only to be caught out by the presence of a second train, usually travelling in the opposite direction to the first.

Now, Britain’s Rail Safety & Standards Board has published a report exploring the case for provision of “another train coming” warnings. The study – T652 Examining the benefits of “another train coming” warnings at level crossings – considered the various solutions presently available, the experience of overseas administrations; and, following an industry workshop, came up with a short list of potentially promising solutions.

The study went on to test using video simulation the industry preferred options on 624 members of the public to gain an understanding of their potential effectiveness. These levels of effectiveness were factored into cost benefit analyses.

 

The results of the study have indicated that fitting “another train coming” warnings at user worked crossings at stations which are protected by miniature warning lights is potentially justifiable.

Network Rail is presently considering how it should take forward the research findings in respect of this type of level crossing.

(December 23rd, 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 relevance 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)