2016 – July – Green – Re-Engineering Level Crossing Safety

This paper describes components and processes to re-engineering level crossing safety by controlling the movement over level crossings for both road and rail vehicles. This is primarily aimed at highway crossings and in particular remotely located crossings on heavy haulage rail lines. The rail corridor has always been designated as a permanent way with the train driver as the only stopping control to avoid collisions with obstructions. With the introduction of new technologies and driverless train projects the need to detect obstructions and control the passage of trains across conflict zones such as level crossings has become vital. These new technologies must be introduced with strict operational guidelines that are fit for purpose. Technology that increases train delays due to false or unreliable alarms is not an acceptable solution. System components for this design will include  Duplicated Flashing Lights  Duplicated Half Boom Gates  Barrier protection around level crossing equipment locations  CCTV with integrated crossing state logging  Obstruction Detection in the crossing zone  Duplicated Advance Warning Lights  Road Speed Reduction  Rumble Strips  Full Road Pavement Markings and duplicated road signage  Vital Communications to stop the train All components play an important role in level crossing protection.