Multiple Level Crossings

[Daz28]

I noticed today that just north of Doncaster on the ECML, where the Wakefield and Leeds track diverges there is a small road (Ings Road) that crosses both sets of lines. Each has an independently controlled level crossing, and there is only room for about a dozen cars between each crossing.

Are there any other examples of roads with multiple level crossings close together? Is the Ings Road crossing the shortest distance between independent crossings?

Which Uk road has the most level crossings?

 

[jopsuk]

Three in about 500m in Ely (plus a fourth line- the quietest by some margin- crossed by a bridge just to the west)

 

[Tomnick]

Just north of Ely North Junction, at Queen Adelaide, there are three AHBs in fairly quick succession on a road running east to west across all three routes (which then goes on to cross the West Curve on an overbridge). Nowhere near as close together as your Doncaster example though!

Edit: beaten to it - evidently took me more than five minutes to compose my response .

 

[Harbon 1]

I've seen those crossings at Doncaster. I hope it's a quiet road, wouldn't want to gt stuck on the mainline!

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

In Barnes, London there are two crossings about 50m apart. One has 16tph off-peak and the other 8tph.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Bollo Lane, Acton; two very busy level crossings very close together. Easy for road traffic to get jammed up on the rails.

 

[Ironside]

Would multiple level crossings like these be good candidates for replacing with bridges or are practical reasons why they still exist, eg lack of use or funds?

 

[swcovas]

There are level crossings at both ends of Llanelli station. quite busy roads too.

 

[jopsuk]

Would multiple level crossings like these be good candidates for replacing with bridges or are practical reasons why they still exist, eg lack of use or funds?

The ones at Ely are on fairly busy lines (2 or 3 passenger services per hour each way on two, 1 per hour each way on the middle one, more at peak time plus there's freight) on a fairly busy road. However, property and terrain conspire to make bridges expensive.

 

[Bald Rick]

Bollo Lane, Acton; two very busy level crossings very close together. Easy for road traffic to get jammed up on the rails.

Half right - one very busy crossing (across the NLL), and one that sees a handful of trains a day (Kew East line)

 

[Goatboy]

Easy for road traffic to get jammed up on the rails.

Only if the driver is willfully negligent and ignores the fact the crossing has a yellow box junction on it.

 

[D365]

Just north of Ely North Junction, at Queen Adelaide, there are three AHBs in fairly quick succession on a road running east to west across all three routes (which then goes on to cross the West Curve on an overbridge). Nowhere near as close together as your Doncaster example though!

Edit: beaten to it - evidently took me more than five minutes to compose my response .

Oh yeah, that lot's mental! There must be some way to replace it viably or such :P

 

[Bald Rick]

Oh yeah, that lot's mental! There must be some way to replace it viably or such :P

That depends on the definition of 'viably'. It is possible to replace all three with about a mile of new road (across difficult ground and the Great Ouse), however the cost means it's not worth it. The money is much better spent on other level crossing initiatives elsewhere.

 

[D365]

That depends on the definition of 'viably'. It is possible to replace all three with about a mile of new road (across difficult ground and the Great Ouse), however the cost means it's not worth it. The money is much better spent on other level crossing initiatives elsewhere.

Yeah, fair enough, I'm somewhat obsessive about removing oddities like that (from the world?!), but there's no real need.

 

[Cab2Cab]

Hi

I know this thread is to do with multiple level crossings, but can anyone recall the longest length in a level crossing, barrier to barrier.

What brings this to mind is the level crossing at Maxey road at Helpston, north of peterborough. I remember having to cross this level crossing and it has 5 running lines from barrier to barrier on the east coast mainline. It goes- (barrier)2 lines to Leicester,(roadway) freight or loop line,(roadway again) up/down fast (barrier). This has to be a contender, check it out on google/bing maps.

Quite worrying when you just enter the crossing and the sirens/ambers activate.

cheers

 

[Manchester77]

On the outskirts of Aberystwyth there is the mainline level crossing and the Vale of Rhedol herritage line wih a small gap in between. It's near the morrisons

 

[robschopper]

On the outskirts of Aberystwyth there is the mainline level crossing and the Vale of Rhedol herritage line wih a small gap in between. It's near the morrisons

These two crossings (Llanbadarn Fawr) are less than 50m apart and there is a system of interlocking to prevent both crossings operating at the same time. On leaving Borth the Cambrian train 'strikes in' on a treadle on the track. This prevents the VoR train crews operating their crossing until the Cambrian has passed over the crossing.

Prior to leaving Aberystwyth in the Up direction, the Cambrian driver has to press a plunger on the platform to 'strike in'. The train then has ten minutes to get to the crossing before it times out. If this occurs the train has to stop at the crossing to operate the barriers from a second plunger.

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2012/report112012.cfm

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2009/report202009.cfm

This arrangement has caused a couple of potentially serious incidents, reports into which are on the RAIB website.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Only if the driver is willfully negligent and ignores the fact the crossing has a yellow box junction on it.

Which could never happen in London, where all the drivers are so careful, polite and law-abiding.

 

[LE Greys]

Hi

I know this thread is to do with multiple level crossings, but can anyone recall the longest length in a level crossing, barrier to barrier.

What brings this to mind is the level crossing at Maxey road at Helpston, north of peterborough. I remember having to cross this level crossing and it has 5 running lines from barrier to barrier on the east coast mainline. It goes- (barrier)2 lines to Leicester,(roadway) freight or loop line,(roadway again) up/down fast (barrier). This has to be a contender, check it out on google/bing maps.

Quite worrying when you just enter the crossing and the sirens/ambers activate.

cheers

Up to some time in the 1960s (can't remember when, but probably the same time MAS was installed) that was two separate crossings over two separate railways, the 4-track ECML and double-track Midland route. Both were gated, and I'm not sure how they were co-ordinated. Of course, traffic on both lines and the road was a lot less then.

 

[Cab2Cab]

Up to some time in the 1960s (can't remember when, but probably the same time MAS was installed) that was two separate crossings over two separate railways, the 4-track ECML and double-track Midland route. Both were gated, and I'm not sure how they were co-ordinated. Of course, traffic on both lines and the road was a lot less then.

Hi

Thanks for the info LE Greys, i would image going back to the 60's there would have been a signal box in that location either being on the junction or next to the crossing(s).

I will try to locate on the net the signal box location.

Be interesting to know the procedure of this crossing now and if the PSB at Peterborough are looking over this crossing constantly.

Cheers

 

[High Dyke]

Hi

Thanks for the info LE Greys, i would image going back to the 60's there would have been a signal box in that location either being on the junction or next to the crossing(s).

I will try to locate on the net the signal box location.

Be interesting to know the procedure of this crossing now and if the PSB at Peterborough are looking over this crossing constantly.

Cheers

Nowadays Maxey Road crossing is supervised from Helpston SB; however each company provided its own signalbox for the respective lines. The former MR box is now in use at Orton Mere on the Nene Valley Railway. Helpston used to have seperate boxes / gates for the crossing there. Though station platforms were only provided on the Midland line.

http://www.peterboroughimages.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/helpstnstn.jpg

 

[Cab2Cab]

Nowadays Maxey Road crossing is supervised from Helpston SB; however each company provided its own signalbox for the respective lines. The former MR box is now in use at Orton Mere on the Nene Valley Railway. Helpston used to have seperate boxes / gates for the crossing there. Though station platforms were only provided on the Midland line.

http://www.peterboroughimages.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/helpstnstn.jpg

Hi,

Thanks for that info High Dyke,

cheers

 

[Statto]

Not sure if the crossings are still there but, there's one scene an episode of the TV series Minder, where Terry & Arthur walking down a Road which has 3 level crossings in a short distance.

 

[Bald Rick]

Not sure if the crossings are still there but, there's one scene an episode of the TV series Minder, where Terry & Arthur walking down a Road which has 3 level crossings in a short distance.

There was an episode filmed at South Acton station, which is a stone's throw from the aforementioned crossings (2) at Bollo Lane. With persective through a telephoto lens it could look like 3.

 

[jonty14]

Kirksanton near Millom in Cumbria has 2 level crossings near each other. If i remember correctly,they are still gated.