LEVEL CROSSING SAFETYSUPPLEMENT 3


money to make a significant difference. Once you add in the stakeholder issues and concerns and multiply by hundreds or thousands then it becomes a huge challenge. The cost of footbridges, purchasing land, management of contracts and contractors will also run to millions of pounds for a single scheme. There are a number of ways in which this can be addressed. Creating more competition for design and


build costs. Joint funding with Local Authorities or reducing timescales, possessions, multiple


The concept of the intelligent client


adopting a risk based approach is exactly what is required if we are to improve safety, reduce risk, and enhance our management of this key asset whilst reducing costs. Costs are a big area where significant improvements can be made.


» The success of our first level crossing mobile enforcement vehicle has been very encouraging with over 800 prosecutions in the first few months of operation «


up out of the road while Israel has double sets of traffic lights 120m apart on the approach to crossings. Japan paint their road surfaces and illuminate stop lines with vertical lighting. We can introduce similar interventions and overlay this with better enforcement. Introducing red light enforcement cameras at road crossings is something we will do on a macro scale this year. The success of our first level crossing mobile enforcement vehicle has been very encouraging with over 800 prosecutions in the first few months of operation.


Network Rail and the British Transport Police have introduced a purpose-built marked police van fitted with nine cameras to tackle level crossing law breakers.


interfaces and project management costs. Centralising the planning of this is important. Being able to tell suppliers in advance what we need and in what volumes is a fairly standard practice that has often been ignored in favour of a more bespoke approach. More competition for commercially available products extends to all areas of level crossing management. Reducing timescales and costs of not just closures but of renewals and all types of safety enhancements is critical as we move forward.


www.europeanrailwayreview.com


» Our objective by 2014 is to have reduced the contribution of level crossing risk to overall safety risk by 25% «


New technologies can be utilised far better – plug and play systems and user based solutions that don’t interface with the signalling system are the future for level crossings. As is the introduction of more road based control measures. The US have rising bollards that come


We have a number of risk areas where more


innovation is needed. Providing an indication direct to the user of where the train is or when it is safe to cross is one of these. Improving user gate and phone discipline at


User Worked Crossings is another. Leaving gates open or not using telephones to gain permission to cross is a constant concern. Automatic Half Barrier crossings and


Automatic Open crossings is another problematic area. Designing out the risk of


European Railway Review Volume 17, Issue 4, 2011


Photo Source: www.networkrail.co.uk


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