Level CrossingsA Critical Risk Network Approach

Current State

17% of collisions involve HVs

14% of crossings with formal agreement

52% of collisions at crossing with active controls

4 People die on average each year

14 People injured on average each year

A crossing every

1.5km of track

6 to 8 crossings upgraded each year

1,476 public crossings 1,343 private crossings

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

No

of

Co

llis

ion

s

Source: KiwiRail records

Collision History

Victoria Street Hamilton 1950’s

Circa 2010

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

No

of

Co

llis

ion

s

Collision History

Source: KiwiRail records

Pedestrian/Cyclist Collisions

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Source: Rail Safety Statistics, Ministry of Transport

Critical Risk Network

Compliance and Interface agreements

Infrastructure and

Technology

Knowledge and Data

Awareness and

Enforcement

Partnerships

Participants

Engineering Communications Property

Infrastructure, standards and risk

assessment

Community aspects, awareness

campaigns, media connections

Managing interface agreements

Planning

Land use planning connection

Operations

Local knowledge Operational perspective

Network Field staff

Information Example: Collision Causes

Too fast

Did not stop

Alcohol

Inattention

Sun Strike

FatigueStuck on tracks Slippery Surface

Source: Crash Analysis System, NZ Transport Agency

Information Example: Heavy Vehicle Incidents

Total Incidents Per crossing

Source: Incident and Risk Investigation System, KiwiRail

Auckland

Waikato

Canterbury

Auckland

Waikato

Bay of Plenty

Marlborough

Widening the Network

14

Changing the Game –

Infrastructure and Technology

Active “Expect Trains” signs

15

Changing the Game –

Infrastructure and Technology

Pre-warning for Crossings with Short Stacking

16

Changing the Game –

Infrastructure and Technology

“Smart Studs” for pedestrian alert

Conclusion

Efforts to reduce the incidence of level crossing collisions have been successful

Society has changed becoming both more risk averse and less self aware

Mitigation approach must change to adapt to the changing risk profile

Increasing rich information base will be used to compliment ALCAM

Initiatives are being pursued in a collaborative fashion with other stakeholders

More details – RTSA/IRSE Level crossing forum November 2016 in Wellington

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