Level crossing
The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion.
[4] The types of early level crossings varied by location, but often they had a flagman in a nearby booth who, on the approach of a train, would wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear the tracks.
In the second quarter of the 20th century[citation needed], manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway started to be introduced, intended to be a complete barrier against intrusion of any road traffic onto the railway.
In rural regions with sparse traffic, the least expensive type of level crossing to operate is one without flagmen or gates, with only a warning sign posted.
With rare exceptions, trains do not stop at level crossings but rely on road vehicles and pedestrians to clear the tracks in advance.
On average, each year around 400 people in the European Union[7] and over 300 in the United States[8] are killed in level crossing accidents.
[7] In the 19th century and for much of the 20th, a sign warning "Stop, look, and listen" (or similar wording) was the sole protection at most level crossings.
These improve safety by not lowering crossing barriers that may trap vehicles or pedestrians on the tracks, while signalling trains to brake until the obstruction clears.
[citation needed] At railway stations, a pedestrian level crossing is sometimes provided to allow passengers to reach other platforms in the absence of an underpass or bridge, or for disabled access.
Note: Since 2010, use of national definitions is no longer permitted: 2010 CSI data represent the first fully harmonized set of figures.
There are a number of possible arrangements: In France, cameras have been installed on some level crossings to obtain images to improve understanding of an incident when a technical investigation occurs.
Winston Churchill Avenue intersects the runway of Gibraltar International Airport at surface level; movable barricades close when aircraft land or take off.
As of March 2023, a tunnel under the runway opened to regular traffic, and the level crossing will only be available to pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters.
