Community SafetyLevel Crossing Information Forum When the National Level Crossing Safety Group (NLSSG) was wound up in 2007 we undertook to meet regularly with those members who were outside the railway industry, to keep them informed of developments to improve safety at level crossings on the Network Rail managed infrastructure. At the same time a new group was created, the Road Rail Interface Safety Group (RRISG). This considers safety at level crossings, bridge strikes and other incursions of road vehicles getting on to the railway. Bridge strikes are a real problem for Network Rail and TOCs in creating delays to trains, but not such a big safety issue except in a few cases where potential exists to derail if track is misaligned. The new RRISG is chaired by Derek Holmes, Head of Operations at Network Rail. These are the links to the presentations given at the first Level Crossing Information Forum, held on 3 June, 2009. Derek Holmes opened the forum, emphasising that level crossings are the biggest source of a potentially catastrophic train accident. The scene was then set by, Siona Pitman, Safety Intelligence Analyst at RSSB, who outlined the level crossing section of the Annual Safety Performance Report for 2008. Siona described the risk profile for different types of crossings.
Michael Woods, Head of Operations Research at RSSB, gave an update on research and development into level crossings. Several research projects have been published in the last eighteen months. They can be found on the RSSB website at www.rssb.co.uk/research/allsearch.asp, or by subscribing to the monthly research e-newsletter at www.rssb.co.uk/research/enews.asp Other research projects are also currently in progress or development. Michael also posed the question, why hasn’t all this research and other activity reduced risk at level crossings? The success of establishing Road Rail Partnerships with local highway authorities was described by Steven Constantine, Operations Risk Control Specialist at Network Rail. More than 30 partnerships are now in place across England, Scotland and Wales where the road and rail authorities can collaborate to manage;
Constantine Network Rail Presentation Derek Holmes gave a brief update on Network Rail’s closure programme for level crossings. The All Level Crossing Risk Model (ALCRM) has been used to assess and prioritize projects and 81 crossings have been closed over the past twelve months, in consultation with landowners. Alan Davies explained the working of the European Level Crossing Forum (ELCF), which provides a network where those involved in the road/rail interface can learn from each other and share research findings. ELCF has signed the European Road Safety Charter, which commits the group to raise awareness of level crossing safety across Europe. The forum has a website at www.levelcrossing.net promoting safety, good practice, sharing experience and educational material. The forum is keen to promote joint road and rail responsibility at level crossings, involve also town planning and development, and press for changing road driver behaviour. An awareness campaign, bringing together media experience from across the member states is planned for 25 June, 2009. The latest progress on review of the Railway Safety Principles and Guidance document Part 2E, Level crossings, was delivered by Steve Vinton, ORR. This was initiated following recommendations from two RAIB reports. The document was to be updated for new content arising from technical, legislative and human factors developments since it was produced. The primary audience for the document is those bodies that:
This document may also be of use to other groups, such as:
Unfortunately changes in ORR have delayed progress on this project and it is currently not clear when the revised document will be available. An update on the current joint review of level crossing legislation by the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission was given by Richard Percival, of the Law Commission. It is hoped to prepare a draft bill following a consultation period (the latter might begin by the end of 2009).
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