Citation

Badcock P. Int. Railw. J. 2007; 47(9): 41-43.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Simmons-Boardman Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The author focuses on the use of innovative thinking in reducing road and rail user risk at level crossings in The Netherlands. Automatic half-barrier crossings have replaced automatic public crossings with lights only--even forest footpaths now have automatic barriers at rail crossings. Barrier design improvements, as well as reduction in level crossings and private crossings, are described. A three-pronged government policy is in effect until 2010: implementation of a broad spectrum of measures, including monitoring, cameras, vehicle radar detection, and double barriers; general level crossing safety improvement; and prevention of new dangerous situations through the elimination of new level crossings and line speed increases above the current 140 km/h, as well as no new complex road layouts in close level crossing proximity.