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
mean STOP (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
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|
These
level crossings have gatesor barriers but no attendant. Theminiature red and green
lights areoperated by an approaching train. Full directions for using these crossings
aregiven on roadside signs. You muststop even if the gates or barriers have been
left open. Always close the gates or 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 |
