"Very high" pedestrian usage at crossings

[MadMatt]

Hi all, long time lurker 1st time poster...
I see that MCB-ODs are not suitable for level crossings where there is very high pedestrian usage (11201/Mod X01, section 8.1.4).
Does anyone know how "very high" would be assessed? Is it relative to the number of vehicles using the crossing, or an absolute number? And might it also depend on how busy the line is?
Thanks

 

[Bald Rick]

Hi all, long time lurker 1st time poster...
I see that MCB-ODs are not suitable for level crossings where there is very high pedestrian usage (11201/Mod X01, section 8.1.4).
Does anyone know how "very high" would be assessed? Is it relative to the number of vehicles using the crossing, or an absolute number? And might it also depend on how busy the line is?
Thanks

It will be based on the number of pedestrians, but there won’t be an absolute number, eg 1499/day is ok but 1500/day isnt. It will vary because of various other risk factors at the crossing, including how vulnerable the pedestrians are, crossing layout, etc.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Hi all, long time lurker 1st time poster...
I see that MCB-ODs are not suitable for level crossings where there is very high pedestrian usage (11201/Mod X01, section 8.1.4).
Does anyone know how "very high" would be assessed? Is it relative to the number of vehicles using the crossing, or an absolute number? And might it also depend on how busy the line is?
Thanks

Welcome to the forum. Your first posting I see.

MCB-OD = Manually Controlled Barriers with Obstacle Detection

 

[Meerkat]

Hi all, long time lurker 1st time poster...
I see that MCB-ODs are not suitable for level crossings where there is very high pedestrian usage (11201/Mod X01, section 8.1.4).
Does anyone know how "very high" would be assessed? Is it relative to the number of vehicles using the crossing, or an absolute number? And might it also depend on how busy the line is?
Thanks

Why not? The sensors aren’t reliable enough, the gates get closed on people when an operator would wait, or pedestrians just keep going knowing the train won’t come if the sensors see them?

 

[Bald Rick]

Why not? The sensors aren’t reliable enough, the gates get closed on people when an operator would wait, or pedestrians just keep going knowing the train won’t come if the sensors see them?

AIUI The way MCB-OD works is typically for the scanners to sweep once before the sequence starts, but if something is in the way delay a bit then try again. So on busier crossings there is much more likely for something to be in the way, and therefore much more likely for the sequence - and consequently trains - to be delayed.

Also Pedestrians are much more likely to ‘jump’ the barriers (as in try to beat them) and thus more likely to be inside the barirers after the sequence has started but before the barriers drop (which has a second scanner sweep beforehand to check clear). So the sequence is more likely to be delayed again.

 

[Meerkat]

AIUI The way MCB-OD works is typically for the scanners to sweep once before the sequence starts, but if something is in the way delay a bit then try again. So on busier crossings there is much more likely for something to be in the way, and therefore much more likely for the seauence - and consequently trains - to be delayed.

Also Pedestrians are much more likely to ‘jump’ the barriers (as in try to beat them) and thus more likely to be inside the barirers after the sequence has started but before the barriers drop (whcih as a second scanner sweep beforehand to check clear). So the sequence is more likely to be delayed again.

Interesting. Surely they don’t delay the sequence as in starting the red lights - it would never start on busier roads??
Also if they are set up to delay if pedestrians do that then presumably a human operator has to too?

 

[Bald Rick]

Interesting. Surely they don’t delay the sequence as in starting the red lights - it would never start on busier roads??
Also if they are set up to delay if pedestrians do that then presumably a human operator has to too?

A human operator can pause the sequence and restart it much more essily, judging with the mark I eyeball. A bit difficult to explain.

 

[MadMatt]

AIUI The way MCB-OD works is typically for the scanners to sweep once before the sequence starts, but if something is in the way delay a bit then try again. So on busier crossings there is much more likely for something to be in the way, and therefore much more likely for the seauence - and consequently trains - to be delayed.

Also Pedestrians are much more likely to ‘jump’ the barriers (as in try to beat them) and thus more likely to be inside the barirers after the sequence has started but before the barriers drop (which has a second scanner sweep beforehand to check clear). So the sequence is more likely to be delayed again.

Very interesting, thanks. I was thinking about the safety aspect, and your first response ties up with what I suspected about numbers being dependent on other factors. I hadn't considered the operational side though re delaying the sequence - it makes sense.

 

[Ianigsy]

Depending on the location, I suppose there may also be surges - school start and finish times, factory shifts, sports venues etc.