level crossing

The types of early level crossings varied by location, but often they had a flagman in a nearby booth who, on the approach of a train, would wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear the tracks. This was a dangerous job that cost the lives of gatekeepers or their family members, as the train was not given enough time to stop.{{Cite web |last=Wojtczak |first=Helena |date=6 May 2019 |title=Female gatekeepers killed by trains 1846-1906. |url=https://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/female-gatekeepers-killed-by-trains-1846-1906/ |access-date=29 April 2024 |website=Railway Work, Life & Death |language=en-US}}

Gated crossings became commonplace in many areas, as they protected the railway from people trespassing and livestock, and they protected the users of the crossing when closed by the signalman/gateman. In the second quarter of the 20th century{{Citation needed|date=December 2020|reason=In Western Europe gates were common in 1875, likely before}}, manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway started to be introduced, intended to be a complete barrier against intrusion of any road traffic onto the railway. Automatic crossings are now commonplace in some countries as motor vehicles replaced horse-drawn vehicles and the need for animal protection diminished with time. Full-, half- or no-barrier crossings superseded gated crossings, although crossings of older types can still be found in places.

In rural regions with sparse traffic, the least expensive type of level crossing to operate is one without flagmen or gates, with only a warning sign posted. This type has been common across North America and in many developing countries.

Some international rules have helped to harmonise level crossing. For instance, the 1968 Vienna Convention states (chapter 3, article 23b) that:

• "one or two blinking red light indicates a car should stop; if they are yellow the car can pass with caution".{{Cite web|url=https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/19680245/|title=RS 0.741.20 Convention du 8 novembre 1968 sur la signalisation routière (avec annexes)|date=29 December 2016|website=Swiss Federal Government Portal|location=Vienna|language=fr|trans-title=RS 0.741.20: Convention of 8 November 1968 on the road signals (with appendices)|orig-year=1968|access-date=22 January 2019|quote=Un feu rouge clignotant; ou deux feux rouges, clignotant alternativement, dont l'un apparaît quand l'autre s'éteint, montés sur le même support à la même hauteur et orientés dans la même direction signifient que les véhicules ne doivent pas franchir la ligne d'arrêt ou, s'il n'y a pas de ligne d'arrêt, l'aplomb du signal; ces feux ne peuvent être employés qu'aux passages à niveau [et dans certaines autres circonstances]...un feu jaune clignotant ou deux feux jaunes clignotant alternativement signifient que les conducteurs peuvent passer, mais avec une prudence particulière.|edition=11 December 1992}}
• Article 27 suggests stop lines at level crossings.
• Article 33, 34, 35 and 36 are specific to level crossings, because level crossings are recognized as dangerous.
• Article 35 indicates a cross should exist{{clarify|date=December 2024}} when there is no barrier or lights.

This has been implemented in many countries, including countries which are not part of the Vienna Convention.

File:The Lineman (Laurits Andersen Ring) - Nationalmuseum - 21932.tif|A gateman at work at a gated crossing of the South Line in Denmark.
Painting by L. A. Ring, 1884.{{Cite Q | Q106492615 }}

File:Thies 4323.jpg|Level crossing in Senegal (2020)

File:Level crossing in Hanoi.jpg|A level crossing at Hanoi, Vietnam, with crossing lights, electric bells, and half-barrier gates in their open position

Trains have a much larger mass relative to their braking capability, and thus a far longer braking distance than road vehicles. With rare exceptions, trains do not stop at level crossings but rely on road vehicles and pedestrians to clear the tracks in advance. There have been several accidents in which a heavy load on a slow road transporter has not cleared the line in time, eg Dalfsen train crash and Hixon rail crash. At Hixon the police escort had received no training in their responsiblities.

Level crossings constitute a significant safety concern internationally. On average, each year around 400 people in the European Union{{cite journal |last1=Cirovic |first1=G. |last2=Pamucar |first2=D. |title=Decision support model for prioritizing railway level crossings for safety improvements: Application of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy system |journal=Expert Systems with Applications |volume=40 |year=2012 |issue=6|pages=2208–2223 |doi=10.1016/j.eswa.2012.10.041}} and over 300 in the United States{{cite journal |last1=Mok |first1=Shannon C |last2=Savage |first2=Ian |title=Why Has Safety Improved at Rail-Highway Grade Crossings? |journal=Risk Analysis |date=1 August 2005 |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=867–881 |doi=10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00642.x|pmid=16268935 |bibcode=2005RiskA..25..867M |s2cid=5744697 |url=http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/208237/files/2004_ImproveSafety_paper.pdf }} are killed in level crossing accidents. Collisions can occur with vehicles as well as pedestrians; pedestrian collisions are more likely to result in a fatality.{{cite report |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau |title=Level crossing accident fatalities |year=2004 |url=https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2004/lev_cross_fat }} Among pedestrians, young people (5–19 years), older people (60 years and over), and males are considered to be higher risk users.{{cite journal |last=Lloyd's Register Rail |title=Study of pedestrian behaviour at public railway crossings |journal=Public Transport Safety Victoria |year=2007}} On some commuter lines most trains may slow to stop at a station, but express or freight trains will pass through stations at high speed without slowing.

As far as warning systems for road users are concerned, level crossings either have "passive" protection, in the form of various types of warning signs, or "active" protection, using automatic warning devices such as flashing lights, warning sounds, and barriers or gates. In the 19th century and for much of the 20th, a sign warning "Stop, look, and listen" (or similar wording) was the sole protection at most level crossings. Fewer collisions take place at level crossings with active warning systems, and today active protection is widely available.{{cite journal |last=Federal Railroad Administration |title=Railroad safety statistics: 2005 annual report |journal=Federal Railroad Administration, Washington D.C |year=2006}} Modern radar sensor systems can detect if level crossings are free of obstructions as trains approach. These improve safety by not lowering crossing barriers that may trap vehicles or pedestrians on the tracks, while signalling trains to brake until the obstruction clears. However, they cannot prevent a vehicle from moving out onto the track once it is far too late for the locomotive to slow even slightly.{{cite web |url= http://honeywell.com/sites/aero-regelsysteme/Produktes/Documents/RS_e_40702.pdf |title=Honeywell Radar Scanner, Advantages & Benefits |date=11 May 2012 |publisher=Honeywell Regelsysteme GmbH |access-date=1 September 2013}}

Due to the increase in road and rail traffic as well as for safety reasons, level crossings are increasingly being removed. As an example, Melbourne is {{As of|2024}} planning to close 110 level crossings by 2030 and (due to the proximity of some stations) rebuild 51 stations.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

At railway stations, a pedestrian level crossing is sometimes provided to allow passengers to reach other platforms in the absence of an underpass or bridge, or for disabled access. Where third rail systems have level crossings, there is a gap in the third rail over the level crossing, but this does not necessarily interrupt the power supply to trains since they may have current collectors on multiple cars.

File:Alsdorf BÜ Bahnhofstraße.JPG|Level crossing in Germany with an egg-shaped radar sensor for detecting obstacles on the crossing

File:Stop Look Listen Sign.jpg|A "stop, look, and listen" sign in Britain

File:Pare-mire-escuche fcb.jpg|A "stop, look, and listen" sign in Argentina

{{Graph:Chart|width=270|height=200

|xAxisTitle=Year

|yAxisTitle=Rail collisions per billion miles traveled

|legend=Collisions in United States by traveled distance

|type=line

|x= 1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003

|y1=1820,1350,1020,1000,850,920,970,860,770,740

|y2=,161,171,146,125,160,164,110,425,291

|y3=7.2,5.7,3.4,4.1,4.6,4.3,4.0,4.3,1.9,1.9

|y4=,0.9,0.4,0.6,1.2,0.9,0.8,0.5,1.0,0.9

|colors=#ae3C01,#2121ae,#7171fe,#c14A23,#FeFe01,#4674C0,#FeAaA5

|y1Title= All rail collision (by vehicle miles)

|y2Title= Rail collision at grade crossing (by vehicle miles)

|y3Title= All rail collision (by passenger miles)

|y4Title= Rail collision at grade crossing (by passenger miles)

|yAxisMin=0

|showValues=

|yGrid=1

}}

Source: US Department of Transportation.{{Cite web |last=U.S. Department of Transportation |date=December 2005 |title=Transit Safety & Security Statistics & Analysis 2003 Annual Report (Formerly SAMIS) |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/tsass2003.pdf}}

(1 mile=1.6{{nbsp}}km)

{{Graph:Chart|width=270|height=200

|xAxisTitle=Year

|yAxisTitle=Number of rail accidents

|legend=Number of level crossing accidents in Europe

|type=line

|x= 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015

|y1= ,,,,592 ,517 ,573 ,510 ,506 ,469

|y2= 140 ,115 ,115 ,49 ,36 ,40 ,38 ,42 ,51 ,41

|y3= 181 ,97 ,76 ,64 ,73 ,56 ,79 ,59 ,67 ,61

|y4= 275 ,325 ,278 ,98 ,86 ,86 ,77 ,75 ,65 ,74

|y5=104 ,54 ,44 ,39 ,42 ,38 ,37 ,35 ,28 ,33

|y6= 9 ,14 ,23 ,16 ,7 ,11 ,10 ,12 ,11 ,3

|colors=#802121ae,#80010181,#80010101,#80810101,#80ae3C01,#80a171ae,#c14A23,#FeFe01,#4674C0,#FeAaA5

|y1Title= EU 28

|y2Title= France

|y3Title= Germany

|y4Title= Poland

|y5Title= Hungary

|y6Title= UK

|yAxisMin=0

|showValues=

|yGrid=1

}}

Source: Eurostat: The rail accident data are provided to Eurostat by the European Railway Agency (ERA). The ERA manages and is responsible for the entire data collection. The Eurostat data constitute a part of the data collected by ERA and are part of the so-called Common Safety Indicators (CSIs).

Note: Since 2010, use of national definitions is no longer permitted: 2010 CSI data represent the first fully harmonized set of figures.

{{Graph:Chart|width=270|height=200

|xAxisTitle=Year

|yAxisTitle=Killed

|legend=Killed at level crossing accidents in Europe

|type=line

|x= 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015

|y1=

|y2=40 ,39 ,38 ,36 ,27 ,32 ,33 ,30 ,26 ,27

|y3= 63 ,80 ,63 ,51 ,52 ,39 ,57 ,43 ,51 ,50

|y4= 30 ,48 ,39 ,73 ,55 ,62 ,62 ,50 ,42, 55

|y5=23 ,20 ,42 ,29 ,30 ,27 ,27 ,21 ,19 ,25

|y6=5 ,13 ,14 ,13 ,4 ,6 ,6 ,9 ,9 ,2

|colors=#80010181,#80010101,#80810101,#80ae3C01,#80a171ae,#c14A23,#FeFe01,#4674C0,#FeAaA5

|y1Title= EU 28

|y2Title= France

|y3Title= Germany

|y4Title= Poland

|y5Title= Hungary

|y6Title= UK

|yAxisMin=0

|showValues=

|yGrid=1

}}

• Source: Eurostat: Annual number of victims by type of accident [rail_ac_catvict] Last update: 9 February 2017

{{Graph:Chart|width=300|height=200

|xAxisTitle=Year

|yAxisTitle=Killed

|legend=Killed at level crossing accidents in United States

|type=line

|x= 1999, 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018

|y1=402, 425,421,357,334,372,259,269,339,290,249,260,250,230,232,262,237,255,271,270

|colors=#80010181,#80010101,#80810101,#80ae3C01,#80a171ae,#c14A23,#FeFe01,#4674C0,#FeAaA5

|y1Title= United states

|yAxisMin=0

|showValues=

|yGrid=1

}}

• Source, Federal Railroad Administration{{Cite web | url=https://oli.org/about-us/news/collisions-casulties |title = Collisions & Casualties by Year | Operation Lifesaver}}

{{see also|Traffic signal preemption}}

Traffic signal-controlled intersections next to level crossings on at least one of the roads in the intersection usually feature traffic signal preemption.[https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part4/part4d.htm#section4D13 Section 4D.13] and [https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part8/part8d.htm#section8D07 Section 8D.07] of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices In the US, approaching trains activate a routine where, before the road lights and barriers are activated, all traffic signal phases go to red, except for the signal immediately after the crossing, which turns green (or flashing yellow) to allow traffic on the tracks to clear (in some cases, there are auxiliary traffic signals prior to the railroad crossing which will turn red, keeping new traffic from crossing the tracks. This is in addition to the flashing lights on the crossing barriers). After enough time to clear the crossing, the signal will turn. The crossing lights may begin flashing and the barriers lower immediately, or this might be delayed until after the traffic light turns red.

The operation of a traffic signal, while a train is present, may differ from municipality to municipality. There are a number of possible arrangements:

1. All directions will flash red, turning the intersection into an all-way stop.
2. While the train is passing, the traffic parallel to the railroad track will have a flashing yellow, while the other directions face a flashing red light.
3. While the train is passing, the traffic parallel to the railroad track will have a green light, while the other directions face a red light.
4. Traffic lights can operate relatively normally, with only the blocked direction turning red while the train is passing.

In France, cameras have been installed on some level crossings to obtain images to improve understanding of an incident when a technical investigation occurs.rapport d'enquête technique sur la collision entre un train Transilien et un véhicule léger survenue le 15 septembre 2019 sur le passage à niveau n° 8 à Roissy-en-Brie (77)

In England, cameras have been installed at some level crossings.

{{cite web|title=Cameras installed at level crossing to catch motorists breaking the law|url=https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/82572/level-crossing-cameras-breaking-law/|website=Global Railway Review|language=en|access-date=6 April 2021|publication-date=}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/level-crossings-everything-you-need-to-know1/|website=www.rac.co.uk|access-date=6 April 2021|publication-date=|title=Level crossings - everything you need to know | RAC Drive}}

In South Australia, cameras have been installed at some level crossings to deter non-compliance with signals.{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/515148/201112-bp4-agency-statements-vol4.pdf |page=112 |title=2011–12 budget papers: Transport, Energy and Infrastructure: Targets 2011−12 |publisher=South Australian Government |access-date=9 October 2022}}

{{main|Level crossings by country}}

Designs of level crossings vary between countries.

{{Main|List of level crossing crashes}}

File:NTSB aerial view of Bourbonnais grade crossing accident.jpg, in 1999 was attributed to a malfunction of the warning signals, with fatigue of the driver of a semi truck as a contributing factor.]]

Level crossings present a significant risk of collisions between trains and road vehicles. This list is not a definitive list of the world's worst accidents and the events listed are limited to those where a separate article describes the event in question.

File:Sumburgh Airport Barrier.webm over Sumburgh Airport's runway in Shetland. The movable barrier closes when aircraft land or take off.]]

File:France road sign A23.svg

Aircraft runways sometimes cross roads or rail lines, and require signaling to avoid collisions.

• Sydney Airport had a runway crossing, when that runway was extended. The Port Botany railway line was later deviated in March 1960 to release land for new Qantas hangars with sharp curves that avoided the runway.New Track Diversion Permits Airport Expansion Railway Transportation May 1960 page 30The Airport Diversion of the Botany line Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 274 August 1960 page 121 On 18 June 1950, a Douglas DC-3 operating for Ansett Australia was involved in a ground collision with a freight train at the crossing.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/274321777 Plane, Train Collide on Runway] Daily Mirror 18 June 1950 page 2 The accident derailed several train cars, severely damaged the aircraft, and resulted in one minor injury to the aircraft crew.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2785023 Collision at Airport, all Factors Probed] Canberra Times 20 June 1950 page 2
• Burnie Airport had a runway crossing over the 05/23 Runway. This crossing was built over the railway line when the airfield was constructed, and has since been decommissioned with the closing of both the railway line and the 05/23 runway.{{cite web |url= http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/WYY%20rail%20crossing%201.htm |title=Wynyard Airport Railway Crossing |publisher=Airways Museum }}

File:Gibraltar Airport Checkpoint.jpg

Winston Churchill Avenue intersects the runway of Gibraltar International Airport at surface level; movable barricades close when aircraft land or take off.

As of March 2023, a tunnel under the runway opened to regular traffic, and the level crossing will only be available to pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters.{{cite web | url=https://www.gbc.gi/news/airport-tunnel-will-open-one-minute-past-midnight-friday-morning | title=Airport Tunnel will open at one minute past midnight on Friday morning }}

After the runway of Kai Tak Airport was extended in 1943, it intersected with the easternmost section of Prince Edward Road, so all road traffic had to be stopped during takeoffs and landings. The issue was relieved when the authorities constructed a new runway for replacement in September 1958.{{cite web|url=https://www.thinkhk.com/article/2021-06/30/49909.html|title=香港曾經有一個被馬路貫穿的機場？|lang=zh}}

File:Rail-run-way-crossing.jpg

The Fianarantsoa-Côte Est railway crosses the runway at Manakara Airport. It is one of the few airports in the world that crosses an active railway line.

A level crossing near Gisborne, sees the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line cross one of Gisborne Airport's runways. Aircraft landing on sealed 1310-metre runway 14L/32R are signalled with two red flashing lights on either side of the runway and a horizontal bar of flashing red lights to indicate the runway south of the railway line is closed, and may only land on the {{convert|866|m}} section of the runway north of the railway line. When the full length of the runway is open, a vertical bar of green lights signal to the aircraft, with regular rail signals on either side of the runway indicating trains to stop.{{cite web |url= http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZGS_51.1_51.2.pdf |title= Gisborne (NZGS) aerodrome diagram |work= Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand |date=24 September 2009 |access-date=4 January 2010}}{{cite web |url= http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZGS_46.1.pdf |title= Gisborne (NZGS) Operational Signal Lights |work= Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand |date= 4 September 2003 |access-date= 4 January 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100522031024/http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZGS_46.1.pdf |archive-date= 22 May 2010}}

The runway of Ometepe Airport crosses the highway NIC-64.

As of February 2023, there exists one road-runway crossing at Catarman Airport in Northern Samar.{{Cite news |last=Meniano |first=Sarwell |date=15 February 2023 |title=CAAP mulls relocation of Northern Samar Airport |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195263 |access-date=23 January 2024 |work=Philippine News Agency}}

The Visby Lärbro Line between Visby and Lärbro crossed the runway of Visby Airport between 1956 and 1960.{{cite web |url= http://www.historiskt.nu/bandata/bandelsdata/Baslista/Alla/bd660.htm |title= Driftplatser som ingår i bandel 660|access-date=19 April 2017}}

Two public roads cross the runway at Meiringen Air Base. Electrically operated gates close when aircraft land or take off.{{cite web |url=https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-military-airfield-with-two-public-roads-crossing-the-runway/3090 |title=The Military Airfield with Two Public Roads Crossing the Runway |last=Walker |first=John |date=25 April 2023 |website= scanalyst.fourmilab.ch|publisher= 24 January 2024|access-date= |quote=}}

• Northern Ireland: There was a runway crossing on the Belfast–Derry railway line. The runway was interlocked with conventional railway block instruments to the control tower.
• Scotland: Crossing of the A970 road over Sumburgh Airport's runway in Shetland.

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• At-grade intersection
• At-grade railway
• Billups Neon Crossing Signal
• Boom barrier
• Breakover angle
• Crossbuck
• Four-quadrant gate
• Grade separation
• Level crossing signals
• Lists of rail accidents

:*List of train accidents by death toll

• Lists of traffic collisions
• Occupation crossing
• Pedestrian crossing
• Warning sign
• Whistle post
• Wigwag
• Level crossings in the United Kingdom{{div col end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Stanley |last2=van der Mark |first2=Peter |year= 2008|title=Level Crossings |location=Shepperton |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |isbn=978-0-7110-3308-5}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Level crossings}}
• [http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/webaps/default.aspx Web Accident Prediction System] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001221111/https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/webaps/default.aspx |date=1 October 2023 }} - Highway-rail crossing data from the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Analysis

{{Rail tracks}}

{{Railwaysignalling}}

{{Road types}}

{{Railway_track_layouts}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Traffic signs

Category:Rail junction types

Category:Road infrastructure

Category:Road hazards

Category:Articles containing video clips