Level Crossings

***ill tonkso*** · December 2nd, 2012, 07:16 PM

As a non-driver, I don't have to worry about level crossings in my day to day life. However, I am waiting for a train at Cosham and the crossing is at the end of the platforms. The barriers went down a full 3 minutes before the train arrived, waited for the next train to pull on on the opposite platform, waited for that trains dwell (I counted 35 seconds) then only opened when that had traversed the crossing. In total the road was shut for 5 minutes.

Is this normal? I remember not that long ago the road being open whilst a train was at the platform, does the road really need to be closed when the train is on dwell? The barriers were shut for an additional 2 minutes after the first train passed through before the second train needed too.

***ill tonkso*** · December 2nd, 2012, 07:18 PM

They have now gone down at 17.15. My train is at 17.20. Assuming 1 minute dwell and allowing for headway (low linespeed here, even for those that don't stop) surely they could have gone down at about 17.17?

Splish · December 2nd, 2012, 10:27 PM

I don't know the policy for timings, but this is fairly common practice from what I've seen.

Addlestone station which has a level crossing just past the platforms can be down for up to 10 minutes, (causing absolute mayhem traffic wise!).

ledge88 · December 3rd, 2012, 01:33 AM

It's the norm at Reigate also. The barriers just stay down even if there is 5 minutes between a train to Reading leaving and one to Redhill coming in.

Accura4Matalan · December 3rd, 2012, 05:17 AM

From what I've observed this is usually the case. I used to catch a train into Preston daily from Bamber Bridge station, which is adjacent to a level crossing on a busy road. The track approaching the station also happens to be very straight at this point, and you can see the train approaching for several minutes, all whilst the barriers are down. It does seem a tad over the top, especially compared to other countries.

traffordboy · December 3rd, 2012, 09:10 AM

Navigation Road crossing in Altrincham was down for 17mins a cpl of weeks back. Absolute mayhem and my kids, plus many many more were late for school because of it.

SF-02 · December 3rd, 2012, 07:20 PM

UK health and safety extreme caution in operation there. Worse than other comparable EU and developed nations, causing much disruption and hampering the emergency services efforts, and is more dangerous as some people start to think of taking risks.

Leeds No.1 · December 4th, 2012, 03:32 PM

Barriers at Starbeck crossing, a busy urban level crossing, are often down for around 10 minutes. Luckily there are very few level crossings around here- none in Leeds LA.

December 2nd, 2012, 07:16 PM	#1
*ill tonkso* Portsmouths Finest, Maybe Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 14,132 Likes (Received): 217	Level Crossings As a non-driver, I don't have to worry about level crossings in my day to day life. However, I am waiting for a train at Cosham and the crossing is at the end of the platforms. The barriers went down a full 3 minutes before the train arrived, waited for the next train to pull on on the opposite platform, waited for that trains dwell (I counted 35 seconds) then only opened when that had traversed the crossing. In total the road was shut for 5 minutes. Is this normal? I remember not that long ago the road being open whilst a train was at the platform, does the road really need to be closed when the train is on dwell? The barriers were shut for an additional 2 minutes after the first train passed through before the second train needed too. __________________ Official Skyscrapercity 'Support the Shard at London Bridge' Facebook Group! Ill-Tonkso.co.uk - My Portfolio Website

December 2nd, 2012, 07:18 PM	#2
*ill tonkso* Portsmouths Finest, Maybe Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 14,132 Likes (Received): 217	They have now gone down at 17.15. My train is at 17.20. Assuming 1 minute dwell and allowing for headway (low linespeed here, even for those that don't stop) surely they could have gone down at about 17.17? __________________ Official Skyscrapercity 'Support the Shard at London Bridge' Facebook Group! Ill-Tonkso.co.uk - My Portfolio Website

December 3rd, 2012, 05:17 AM	#5
Accura4Matalan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Preston, England/Colwyn Bay, North Wales Posts: 11,840 Likes (Received): 42	From what I've observed this is usually the case. I used to catch a train into Preston daily from Bamber Bridge station, which is adjacent to a level crossing on a busy road. The track approaching the station also happens to be very straight at this point, and you can see the train approaching for several minutes, all whilst the barriers are down. It does seem a tad over the top, especially compared to other countries. __________________ Preston Projects List Updated 11th September 2010

December 4th, 2012, 03:32 PM	#8
Leeds No.1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Leeds, EU Posts: 22,299 Likes (Received): 102	Barriers at Starbeck crossing, a busy urban level crossing, are often down for around 10 minutes. Luckily there are very few level crossings around here- none in Leeds LA. __________________ "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure, It is our light not our darkness, that frightens us"

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December 2nd, 2012, 10:27 PM	#3
Splish Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Surrey, U.K. Posts: 3,519 Likes (Received): 43	I don't know the policy for timings, but this is fairly common practice from what I've seen. Addlestone station which has a level crossing just past the platforms can be down for up to 10 minutes, (causing absolute mayhem traffic wise!).

December 3rd, 2012, 01:33 AM	#4
ledge88 Devon Boy in the City Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London Posts: 277 Likes (Received): 0	It's the norm at Reigate also. The barriers just stay down even if there is 5 minutes between a train to Reading leaving and one to Redhill coming in.

December 3rd, 2012, 09:10 AM	#6
traffordboy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 593 Likes (Received): 12	Navigation Road crossing in Altrincham was down for 17mins a cpl of weeks back. Absolute mayhem and my kids, plus many many more were late for school because of it.

December 3rd, 2012, 07:20 PM	#7
SF-02 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 202 Likes (Received): 1	UK health and safety extreme caution in operation there. Worse than other comparable EU and developed nations, causing much disruption and hampering the emergency services efforts, and is more dangerous as some people start to think of taking risks.