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The 8th International Level Crossing Symposium and Managing Trespass Seminar

International co-operation to tackle the risks associated with worldwide level crossing use was the subject of discussion at the 8th International Level Crossing Symposium and Managing Trespass Seminar in Sheffield, UK. The symposium was the most internationally diverse specialist level crossing and trespass conference ever held.

From 13 - 16 April 2004, 157 delegates from 24 countries shared their knowledge, technological developments and ideas for future initiatives. It was agreed that lateral thinking and a willingness to deploy new technology could drive down costs associated with the management of risk at level crossings.

International delegates made a commitment to share research findings so that the value of individual programmes would be maximised and developed. Specifically, a workshop to identify European research needs will be arranged later this year.

Changing communities and how they interact with the railway was also an emerging theme and experts agreed that ‘outreach’ education programmes must be designed with a long term focus, especially when considering poor user behaviour at level crossings, and the endemic issue of trespass.p> Aidan Nelson, Chairman of the symposium’s Organising Committee said, ‘The 8th International Level Crossing Symposium was a great success, not least due to the calibre of delegates who attended and their commitment to pooling knowledge in order to help reduce the risk of level crossing accidents across the world.’

The next in this series of level crossing and trespass prevention conferences will be held in Montreal, Canada, in September 2006.

Notes to editors:

1. The 8th Level Crossing Symposium was organised by Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and the University of Sheffield in the UK, as well as by Monash University (Australia), US DOT Volpe Center (USA), CETE (France), Railned (Netherlands), SNCF (France), Transport Canada, VTT (Finland) and other experts. The event was also endorsed by the Transportation Research Board in the United States.

2. Aidan Nelson, Chairman of the 8th International Level Crossing Symposium’s Organising Committee is available for interview by contacting Phillippa Brown, External Communications Manager, Rail Safety and Standards Board.

3. For more information on the 8th International Level Crossing Symposium please visit the website: www.levelcrossing2004.com