Bells
suspended over the road at a railway crossing to give an audible warning
to drivers of vehicles that exceed the safe height beneath electrified
overhead cables
| At
automatic level crossings, drivers of large or slow vehicles must
phone before and after crossing |
Long
low vehicles may be at risk of grounding; drivers of such vehicles
must phone before crossing |
 |
Countdown
markers may be provided on the approach to a crossing. These divide
the distance between the advance warning sign and the stop line
into three equal parts; each sloping bar does not necessarily
represent a distance of 100 yards
New method of controlling traffic at a crossing ahead (temporary
sign) |
At
the crossing
Some crossings have flashing red road traffic signals;
these meanSTOP (and this applies to pedestrians too). A steady amber
lightshows before the red lights begin to flash, as at ordinary roadtraffic
signals; this means STOP unless it is unsafe to do so. If thered lights
flash for more than three minutes without a train arriving(other than
at crossings with full barriers), or any barrier is loweredwithout
the lights flashing, phone the signal operator. When thebarriers rise,
do not proceed until the signals go out. If yourvehicle breaks down
or stalls on a crossing, get yourself and yourpassengers out of the
vehicle as soon as possible. Phone thesignal operator and follow the
instructions given. Stand well clearof the crossing if the alarm sounds,
the signals show or thebarriers lower.
|
Road
traffic signals at a level crossing
|
Direction
to phone
|
Location
of phone
|
|
|
Flashing
pedestrian signals used at some level crossings indicate that
it is not safe to cross: pedestrians should stop at the pedestrian
stop line |
| Yellow
box markings indicate an area of carriageway at a level crossing
that must be kept clear. Do not enter the box if other stationary
traffic may cause you to stop with any part of your vehicle within
the box |
Name
of level crossingand phone number for contacting the railway operator
(at level crossings without a dedicated phone) |
Automatic
half-barrier level crossings
Amber lights and audible warnings followed by flashing red lightswarn
that a train is approaching and that the barriers are about tocome
down. You must STOP. The red lights flash all the time thebarriers
are down, but the audible warning might stop. If anothertrain is approaching,
the barriers will stay down; the lights willcontinue to flash and,
if there is an audible warning, the sound willchange.
Level crossings with miniature warninglights
 |
These
level crossings have gatesor barriers but no attendant. Theminiature
red and green lights areoperated by an approaching train. Fulldirections
for using these crossings aregiven on roadside signs. You muststop
even if the gates or barriers havebeen left open. Always close
the gatesor barriers after crossing. |
Open level crossings
The St Andrew’s cross is used at level crossings
where there areno gates or barriers. At automatic crossings, you must
alwaysSTOP when the traffic light signals show. At crossings with"give
way" signs, always look out for and give way to trains.
| Automatic
open level crossings have flashing signals and audible warnings.
The lightswill flash and the warnings will sound until it is safe
to cross |
If
there is more than one railway line over an automatic crossing,
this signal will also flash and the sound of the audible warning
will change if another train is approaching |
Open
level crossings without gates, barriers or road traffic light
signals have "give way" signs over a symbol of a railway locomotive |
