Level crossings

[stuartbaggs]

How do they know when to close?

Does the signaller shut them?

Particularly interested in the one at CBW which is immediately next to the platform.

What happens if a train departs late?

 

[t o m]

In short they can be manually controlled by the signaller, usually if they are full barriers, or automatically controlled using a combination of track circuits and treadles. I can go in to more detail if you need.

 

[Railsigns]

How do they know when to close?

It depends on the type of crossing.

Does the signaller shut them?

It depends on the type of crossing.

When discussing the operation of level crossings, it's essential to appreciate that there are many different types of level crossings on the British rail network, including MCG, MCB, AHBC, ABCL, AOCR, AOCL, AOCL+B, OC, MCB-CCTV, MCB-OD, MSL, TMO and UWC, and although two level crossings can appear similar, they might work in completely different ways.

 

[stuartbaggs]

It depends on the type of crossing.



It depends on the type of crossing.

When discussing the operation of level crossings, it's essential to appreciate that there are many different types of level crossings on the British rail network, including MCG, MCB, AHBC, ABCL, AOCR, AOCL, AOCL+B, OC, MCB-CCTV, MCB-OD, MSL, TMO and UWC, and although two level crossings can appear similar, they might work in completely different ways.

Thanks for being so helpful.

Do you know which type the one at CBW is?

 

[steamybrian]

Thanks for being so helpful.

Do you know which type the one at CBW is?

Not all of us know the 3 letter codes- can you please state the full name of the station.

 

[t o m]

Thanks for being so helpful.

Do you know which type the one at CBW is?

It's a manually controlled crossing with CCTV.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Not all of us know the 3 letter codes- can you please state the full name of the station.

Canterbury West

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks for being so helpful.

Do you know which type the one at CBW is?

It is CCTV, controlled by the signaller that covers that particular location.

 

[Welshman]

It depends on the type of crossing.

If it were Heckington, you'd see our heroic signaller run down the steps from his box to open/close them manually!

 

[balne-wonderer]

There is a new level crossing type, currently being trialled in Thorpe Willougby near Selby

It involves the new obstacle detection technology being used in addition to a NR employee sat in a car, 24/7, watching the crossing. I kid you not.

 

[fsmr]

The safest level crossings are the ones with the barriers across the whole of the road like the one you ask about
These are either locally worked or in your case CCTV remote but both require the crossing to be shut and confirmed clear by the signaller BEFORE the protecting signals can be released. Thus short of misuse by a driver or pedestrian driving through the closed barrier or jumping over, or the highly unlikely scenario of breaking down on the crossing and the signaller not doing his job properly on a CCTV monitored crossing, there is no risk of trains and public mixing

Unlike an automatic half barrier AHB where as the name describes, is operated by the train approaching and by nature is activated in a very short space of time to reduce delays to the public and misuse because of the delay
It however means that the fastest train using the line could arrive just 27 seconds after the amber light first came on but the slowest could in theory be a few minutes depending on where it is situated and the slowest train speed. This leaves little margin for error for a collision with a train in the case of misuse, an accident on the crossing or breakdown and has been discussed at length.
One of the worst accidents in the last 45 years was on a new AHB at Hixon Staffs in 1968
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hixon_rail_crash


NWR are slowly getting rid of AHBs and other types and replacing with signal interlocked full barrier crossings or ideally bridges eliminating any further risk of misuse
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There is a new level crossing type, currently being trialled in Thorpe Willougby near Selby

It involves the new obstacle detection technology being used in addition to a NR employee sat in a car, 24/7, watching the crossing. I kid you not.

I feel very uneasy about replacing mk1 eyeballs with technology just as I do about replacing driver. As I have said previously, technology is not 100% safe in the real world

I know signalmen are not infallible but I cannot recall someone being left trapped between the barriers apart from the high profile case last year but then the signalman didn't release the pegs after the car jumped the lowering barriers

 

[stuartbaggs]

Thanks all

Does anyone know about the Thames Ditton one?

 

[Llanigraham]

NWR are slowly getting rid of AHBs and other types and replacing with signal interlocked full barrier crossings or ideally bridges eliminating any further risk of misuse

Really?
Not from the plans I've seen.
Do you have any documentary evidence for this?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There is a new level crossing type, currently being trialled in Thorpe Willougby near Selby

It involves the new obstacle detection technology being used in addition to a NR employee sat in a car, 24/7, watching the crossing. I kid you not.

Also being used on the Salop - Crewe line!

 

[carriageline]

Network Rail are slowly trying to lead away from level crossing controlled by signallers. Auto, with Obstacle detection is the current flavour of the day I believe!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[The Planner]

Really?
Not from the plans I've seen.
Do you have any documentary evidence for this?

I would argue this aswell, a lot of conversions from AOCL to AOCL+B recently which tend to be only half barrier and to MCB-OD on re-signalling jobs but closure if possible is the main aim.

 

[t o m]

Thanks all

Does anyone know about the Thames Ditton one?

Again that is manually controlled and monitored remotely with CCTV.

 

[fsmr]

Really?
Not from the plans I've seen.
Do you have any documentary evidence for this?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Already discussed to death on here but couldn't be any clearer

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1134


Level crossing risk

Level crossings account for nearly half of the catastrophic train accident risk on Britain’s railways. We believe that the safe design, management and operation of level crossings can reduce the risks, have a positive effect on user behaviour and so reduce the number of fatal and serious incidents.


Statement on level crossings by Ian Prosser, ORR’s Director of Safety:

"Great Britain’s level crossings, although among the safest in Europe, pose a significant rail safety risk to the public. ORR wants the rail industry to close level crossings, but where this is impracticable is pushing the industry to deliver innovative solutions such as implementing new technology to make crossings safe. ORR inspects the industry’s management of level crossings to check that legal safety requirements are being met. Where failings are found, immediate action is taken to ensure the crossing is made safe."

Oakham Brooke rd was just one example of an AHB installed in the 70s but when reviewed after numerous complaints was found to be dangerous with traffic queuing on to it and blind and was replaced a few years back with full interlocked barriers CCTV monitored from Oakham box

 

[Llanigraham]

That statement is from the ORR NOT Network Rail!

 

[t o m]

trialling of new technology which could reduce the cost of providing improved crossing safety features/equipment (e.g. conversion of automatic half-barrier crossings to automatic full-barrier crossings with obstacle detection)

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/4424_levelcrossingpolicy.pdf

 

[Maxfly]

Well so far around 4 or 5 of our AOCL's are now +B's so while the long term aim is to eliminate these crossings or full barrier them, it certainly won't be in my lifetime.

 

[Railsigns]

There are fifteen AOCL+Bs in Scotland now, and the AOCL at Halkirk was recently converted to an ABCL.

 

[Trucker Glen]

There are fifteen AOCL+Bs in Scotland now, and the AOCL at Halkirk was recently converted to an ABCL.

Do you have a list of all the ones that have been converted so far? I have seen Corpach, Bunchrew, Balnacra, Achterneed, Dingwall Middle and Dingwall No.2.
I haven't been to Caithness or Sutherland recently (which is where most of the others are) and don't fancy driving miles to get photos of them if they've not been done yet.

 

[Railsigns]

Do you have a list of all the ones that have been converted so far? I have seen Corpach, Bunchrew, Balnacra, Achterneed, Dingwall Middle and Dingwall No.2.

Here's the full list, including date of conversion:

29/04/2012 - Ardrossan Harbour
27/01/2013 - Corpach
07/04/2013 - Dalchalm
19/05/2013 - Hoy
02/06/2013 - Forsinard
07/07/2013 - Kinbrace
28/07/2013 - Watten
18/08/2013 - Bunchrew
01/09/2013 - Lairg
22/09/2013 - Balnacra
27/10/2013 - Strathcarron
03/11/2013 - Achterneed
17/11/2013 - Princes Street [Ardrossan]
24/11/2013 - Dingwall Middle
24/11/2013 - Dingwall No.2

 

[Joseph_Locke]

The safest level crossing is no level crossing at all

Fixed that for you

 

[fsmr]

Fixed that for you

Thanks I am well aware but as you see I already said if not a bridge
The safest level crossing if you have to have one

If everyone had used the same thinking as the GCR then there would have been no or vey few LCs to talk about but it did come at a price

 

[Trucker Glen]

Here's the full list, including date of conversion:

Thanks, I didn't fancy a trip to Forsinard if it hadn't been upgraded yet.
Do you know when the others are due to be converted?

Here are some of my photos of some of the AOCL+B conversions that have been done so far (including before and after shots): http://www.flickr.com/photos/inverness_trucker/sets/72157635183959861/

 

[Railsigns]

Do you know when the others are due to be converted?

No dates, sorry, though I believe Brora is one of the next in line for conversion.

Here are some of my photos of some of the AOCL+B conversions that have been done so far (including before and after shots): http://www.flickr.com/photos/inverness_trucker/sets/72157635183959861/

Very nice; that's a fine collection of photos. I went to photograph Ardrossan Harbour L.C. shortly after it was converted to AOCL+B as it was the first one to be done, but it's good to see some of the others further north.

 

[fsmr]

No dates, sorry, though I believe Brora is one of the next in line for conversion.



Very nice; that's a fine collection of photos. I went to photograph Ardrossan Harbour L.C. shortly after it was converted to AOCL+B as it was the first one to be done, but it's good to see some of the others further north.

Great pics
interesting the ones showing the conversion with trains passing over with barriers raised
Bit confusing for one of us southerners who dont encounter open LCs often

 

[Andrew AOCL]

There are fifteen AOCL+Bs in Scotland now, and the AOCL at Halkirk was recently converted to an ABCL.

Hi, Halkirk level crossing has new (To contact railway please phone ******) boards. I thought that ABCL crossings had telephones rather than the blue contact boards. Sorry if my post comes up funny as I am new to this website.

 

[edwin_m]

Strictly speaking a phone isn't necessary at a locally monitored crossing because the train is approaching slowly enough that it can stop if the driver sees that the crossing is obstructed. I guess if a train arrives while a very slow road vehicle is crossing, there is a risk that the barriers will come down on it, but this isn't a huge safety issue and is probably rare and minor enough that the cost of dealing with it when it happens is less than that of providing and maintaining phones.

Phones are essential at AHB crossings because of the Hixon situation where an approaching train correctly operates the barriers but there is a road vehicle moving too slowly to get clear and the train is going too fast to stop short. Hence drivers of large or slow vehicles are required to phone to confirm that no trains will approach.

 

[CockneySparrow]

There is a new level crossing type, currently being trialled in Thorpe Willougby near Selby

It involves the new obstacle detection technology being used in addition to a NR employee sat in a car, 24/7, watching the crossing. I kid you not.

Already in force on the Breckland line for the past 2 years