Hi all,
What has been done at most crossings on the PTA system is have integrated
traffic lights and flashing lights and boom gates. The traffic lights go
through their phases and when on red against traffic that would proceed over
the crossing, set the boom gate operation into play. After the train or trains
have cleared the crossing, the boom gates rise, flashing lights stop flashing,
and then the traffic lights will go to proceed to allow road vehicles to clear
the intersection or the road on which the crossing is situated.
As an aside, every crossing on the system is fitted with boom gates, but there
are some that are not integrated.
But, some of those crossings have an Absolute signal placed such that a
stopping train - which the signalling system knows about by the transponder
plates provided - will in fact have stopped for some seconds, before the
traffic lights (where provided) and the boom gates and flashing lights
commence their operation. Where a signal is a controlled absolute, the same
principal applies, except that the signal can be held at stop by the train
controller if circumstances dictate.
Some crossings here have cameras provided as well, and a number of
infringements have been issued as a result of what has been captured by the
camera.
Personally, I am of the opinion that a train is somewhat heavier and stronger
than my car, hence I tend to err on the side of caution and make sure that a
crossing is clear before venturing over it. I really do not think I would win
in a collision with a train.

Perhaps that needs to be instilled in learner drivers.

But as a previous learned correspondent wrote " driver's licence in a Weeties
packet" these people obviously are oblivious to the fact that trains do have
right of way (by law), that the rail crossing is owned by the railway - not
the road department - and it is by the generosity of the railways that the
crossing is provided in the first place. At least that is the way it is in
West Aust.
These I dots also probably think they will survive a collision with any road
or rail vehicle because they are indestructible.
Bob in Perth.

-----Original Message-----
From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:TramsDownUnder@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Thursday, 18 January 2018 8:36 AM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] OT: Level crossings and motorists

On 18/01/2018 11:16 AM, 'Noel Reed'noelreed10@... [TramsDownUnder]
wrote:
> Are the preliminary yellow flashing lights in the approach to a level

> crossing enough to warn road drivers that the flashing red lights at the

> crossing are about to display ?

>

I suspect that the attitude of (a very small percentage of) motorists is in
part due to the high level of risk aversion in managing railway crossings.

In most scenarios, the lights start flashing and the booms come down well
before a train arrives (and rightly so).
As a result, that small percentage of motorists see 'running the rail
crossing' as a lower risk than 'running the orange (or red) light' at road
traffic signals.

Integration of road traffic signals (traffic lights) with level crossing
signals is common in Melbourne, but it leads to even longer waits without a
train in sight and thus reinforces the idea that the wait for a train to
arrive is excessive.

This is more complex on lines with mixed operation of suburban sparks and
country trains (like the line through Essendon) because a non-stop country
train is going to arrive much more quickly after the level crossing lights
change than a stopping all stations suburban train.

Mal Rowe - also concerned that politically driven level crossing removal
campaigns in Victoria add to the odd idea that level crossings are an
infringement of motorist rights

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Posted by: Mal Rowe mal.rowe@...>
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