Costs of Servicing/Maintaining Level Crossings

[Llandudno]

One of my regular dog walks runs parallel to the Conwy Estuary and the Llandudno Junction-Llandudno branch line.

There are two full barriered level crossings either side of Deganwy Station, but I am amazed at how many times there are Network Rail vans and staff servicing and main them.

It makes you wonder how much annually it costs per level crossing, does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Bald Rick]

One of my regular dog walks runs parallel to the Conwy Estuary and the Llandudno Junction-Llandudno branch line.

There are two full barriered level crossings either side of Deganwy Station, but I am amazed at how many times there are Network Rail vans and staff servicing and main them.

It makes you wonder how much annually it costs per level crossing, does anyone have any ideas?

It varies considerably, depending on the type of Level Crossing, the type of control and detection required, and the nature of the railway that crosses it.

I know of a (now thankfully closed) footpath level crossing on a section of two track main line with bi di signalling near a junction and station that cost over £100k a year to maintain - and that was over a decade ago. That was a particualrly expensive one, and most highway level crossings will be much less than that.

As it happens that crossing at Deganwy is particualrly notorious, and the vans you see may well be staff doing security checks rather than maintenance.

 

[Llandudno]

It varies considerably, depending on the type of Level Crossing, the type of control and detection required, and the nature of the railway that crosses it.

I know of a (now thankfully closed) footpath level crossing on a section of two track main line with bi di signalling near a junction and station that cost over £100k a year to maintain - and that was over a decade ago. That was a particualrly expensive one, and most highway level crossings will be much less than that.

As it happens that crossing at Deganwy is particualrly notorious, and the vans you see may well be staff doing security checks rather than maintenance.

Thanks for the response.

Can’t help thinking why the level crossing is ‘particularly notorious’ and why it needs frequent ‘security checks?’ Surely level crossings in more urban locations or those with more frequent and faster trains coupled with greater road traffic volumes would be more notorious?

The level crossing adjacent to the signal box is only a few yards from the Estuary and does at times get buffeted by the strong westerly winds coming off the sea!

 

[Belperpete]

Back in the days when it had gates, they were full width gates, and turning the wheel to open or close them in a high wind could be problematic.

 

[The exile]

Thanks for the response.

Can’t help thinking why the level crossing is ‘particularly notorious’ and why it needs frequent ‘security checks?’ Surely level crossings in more urban locations or those with more frequent and faster trains coupled with greater road traffic volumes would be more notorious?

The level crossing adjacent to the signal box is only a few yards from the Estuary and does at times get buffeted by the strong westerly winds coming off the sea!

It’s often the two-legged traffic over the crossing that is the biggest problem.

 

[Chris Hamilton]

Some crossings seem to get more regular visits than others. I have two MCB-CCTV, 1 AHB and a UWC-MWL on my patch, and its only one of the MCBs that seems to be a regular problem child, but I think it’s just reaching an age where a lot of it’s associated relay and interlocking equipment is reaching end of life. The UWC is usually only visited for misuse (It has non interlocked barriers, and visitors to the property often leave them raised)

Every crossing gets a full maintenance visit every 12 months, and an interim visit (basic checks) every 3 months.

My old patch had two MCB-OD and to be honest those things took up a disproportionate amount of my time. I would visit at least one of them every week for an fault, and the LIDAR scanners had to be cleaned every week. Glad to see the back of them.

 

[Belperpete]

I doubt that it is relay and interlocking equipment that is failing. Relays rarely fail, but can be easily replaced if nearing the end of their life. Some types of wiring can degrade, but that usually then becomes a "don't touch" situation, or in extreme cases even "don't enter". Most failures are of outdoor equipment such as barrier machines, treadles and track circuits.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yep. Treadles are not cheap to buy, need replacing frequently (every couple of years), and some crossings have dozens of them.