level crossings

rubble2

Not sure if this in the right forum but just after some information about level crossings please.

We have recently moved house and in our new location we have to negotiate a level crossing which is situated right next to the local station. My question is regarding the length of time the crossing closes prior to the train appearing and I wondered what the guidelines are regarding this and if they are decided nationally of on a location by location basis.

It seems that the gates close well in advance of the train actually reaching the crossing and whereas I have no wish to compromise safety I was curious as how the length of time the crossing closes prior to the train is determined?

Given that the trains operate on a 20 minute service and obviously trains travel in both directions the amount of downtime when the traffic is stopped is considerable.

I have looked on 'Network rail' website but can't find any info.

I understand that it is absolutely paramount that safety comes first and a detour to avoid the crossing adds considerably to the journey so was interested in the process that decides the length of closure for each train.

Thanks.

spadoosh

I used to live near one similar. I dont know any of the guidelines or antyhing like that but they wouldnt open as long as the train was in the station no matter which way the train was travelling(ie to the crossing or away from it).

This was a fairly major road going through a town centre and at most it was 4-5 minutes waiting and thats if youre at the front. Its the one after the other trains that are most annoying though. Crossing lifts to let a car or two through for it to close for 5 minutes to then see a blur of the pendolino go by. Or if you where really unlucky the oncoming train would (im guessing here) hit the sensor to keep the gates closed before they opened again and youd have to wait for both trains to pass .

Just part and parcel of living near train lines. The bonus is you have a station on your doorstep. Also worth hoping they dont come along to do any improvements. It normally involves months of roads being closed and massive diversions.

Sorry must add, i cant think of an incentive as to why they would benefit from keeping them down longer than absolutely necessary. The only reason i could think to keep them down as long as they do is because of H&S guidance.

jbuchanangb

You might find some useful information here
https://orr.gov.uk/rail/health-and-safety/infrastructure-safety/level-crossings/types-of-level-crossings

scones

It depends on how fast the speed limit is on that rail line, the resulting stopping distances and where signals are placed.

Basic principle is that if for any reason the crossing fails to close, the train needs to still be far enough away for it to be stopped in time.

So, on a line with high speeds the barriers may have to close while the train is still a considerable distance away to give the driver enough time to see a danger signal, react and bring the train to a safe stop. Times may be longer than ideal if there are local complications - for example if a protecting signal has to be positioned further back from the crossing than linespeed alone requires due to visibility issues, if trains using the line have a wide variation in speeds, or if the crossing is right by a station where some trains stop but others don't.

Conversely, on a little local line where all trains stop at a neighbouring station the barrier may not activate at all until the train stops alongside and the staff push a button manually to start the process there and then.

agrinnall

Six trains an hour seems too many to make a level crossing viable, I'd have thought the crossing should be closed to road traffic and an alternative developed - possibly a tunnel or a bridge, possibly a different route altogether. Of course, the cost may make that prohibitive, but if there are safety issues don't surprised if it gets closed anyway and you have to find your own alternative.

Rodders53

Dunno of any rules by one similar crossing had the local MP on Network Rail's case. They needed to upgrade the signalling systems...

https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/at-last-improvements-set-to-reduce-delays-at-notorious-oulton-broad-north-level-crossing-1-4771287

YBR

Network rail regularly re-assess all crossings. They are well aware of the potential for impatient/silly drivers mis-using crossings so do keep the road-closed times to a minimum.

There are many different types of crossings - can you say which it might be:
Full barriers or half barriers?
Monitored by CCTV or Object Detectors or Signaller direct or Train driver?

Assuming full-barrier CCTV, the practicality is a requirement to ensure the barriers are detected down and the crossing proved clear of obstructions in good time for the fastest approaching train. Where there is a station and many of the trains stop this means trains take longer to approach as they brake to stop. I know instances on busy main lines where complex controls are used to mitigate this but I'd guess they're not universally applied on more minor routes. Different principles apply to half-barrier crossings although they are designed to look as similar as possible to road traffic.

Network Rail is putting a lot of money into closing Level Crossings, that might mean a diversion, over-bridge or under-bridge eventually.

Pennywise

It's not just train speed, it's also the signalling. We have a level crossing on a branch line where the trains barely go faster than a car and can easily be waiting upto 10 minutes if we've had to wait 5 for the first and then there's one coming in the opposite direction. There is no signalling on the line - it's "signalled" as two separate lines. The barriers have to come down before the train is signalled to enter the branch line from the main line. Coming the other way, the level crossing is activated by a button on the branch terminus by the driver before setting off and it always takes 5 minutes to get back into the cab, start the train and then travel. All trains stop at the station adjacent to the level crossing so are probably travelling at 10 mph or less as they're either just about to stop or just setting off. Completely ridiculous timings for such a low risk train, but Network Rail just use the bland excuse of H&S rather than the real reason which is that it's easier for them to signal it that way and the long delays are just tough! There used to be a signal box and signalman controlling the level crossing barriers and it was just a wait of a couple of minutes!

rubble2

Thanks for all the replies.

I had a bit of spare time this morning so I took a walk down to the level crossing to investigate further.

There are actually nine trains scheduled in each sixty minute period during the day. I timed the gate closure time from when the lights start to flash to when the barrier is raised again, for a train approaching from my left (passes over level crossing and then stops at station) the total 'down' time was two and a half minutes. For a train approaching from my right (stops at station then passes over crossing) the down time was three and a half minutes (the barriers closed a full two minutes before the train actually arrived at the station)

So, in total over a one hour period the road is closed for approx 27 minutes. I personally think that this situation needs looking at with a view to reducing the disruption to road users.

I think I need to raise this with the rail and or local authorities and see if any solution is viable.

Mojisola

rubble2 wrote: »

So, in total over a one hour period the road is closed for approx 27 minutes. I personally think that this situation needs looking at with a view to reducing the disruption to road users.

I think I need to raise this with the rail and or local authorities and see if any solution is viable.

Start with your local councillor and find out what steps have already been taken. It's probably been an issue locally for some time.

[Deleted User]

Hi,


how often are you likely to use it in an hour, or even a day?


You might only lose 5/10 minutes a day.


If you'd known this before you moved would you've still moved?