Railway/Road Level Crossing Design – Aspect of Safety and Environment

Abstract

At the railway/road level crossings, two essentially different modes of transport intersect, both with a variety of vehicle performance parameters and traffic organization rules. Level crossing presents a collision zone for both transport modes from the aspect of traffic safety. Unfortunately, the probability of accidents at level crossings is still high. Railway Infrastructure Manager controls only one part of the problem (traffic management and ensuring the safety of level crossings using technical equipment and signalization). Level crossings are not always avoidable on the existing railway lines, although the preferred solution is overpass crossing. On the European railway network, level crossings occur even on the reconstructed railway lines for speeds up to 200 km/h, with the appropriate design principles and safety measures for both transport modes. This paper describes the basic design principles for the level crossings where rail vehicles reach speeds up to 200 km/h, as well as the review of the necessary measures to increase safety level.