Level crossing safety
Project overview
Definition of a level crossing: Any crossing of a railway at grade, providing for both vehicular traffic and other road users including pedestrians.
There are more than 2700 road level crossings on operational lines on the NSW rail network, of which about 1300 are located on public roads. This excludes any level crossings in private rail yards and on non-operational rail lines. Level crossing collisions between trains and vehicles are a major road safety risk.
Individual rail and road agencies are responsible for managing and funding level crossing safety on their rail networks.
Local government agencies are asked to contribute one-third of the cost for level crossing upgrades on local roads.
Regulatory oversight is provided by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR), NSW Roads and Maritime Services and NSW Police.
While infrastructure improvements will continue to reduce risk at level crossings, it is also important that drivers, riders and pedestrians take care and obey the road rules each time they encounter a level crossing.
Safety treatment options
There are a range of treatment options available to upgrade the safety protection at level crossings:
- Advanced warning signs
- Queuing treatment (cross hatching and signage)
- Level crossing control and traffic signal interfacing
- Road realignment
- Upgrading of the level crossing controls i.e. installation of flashing lights and boom gates
- High intensity lights (LEDs)
- Train speed reduction
- Rail realignment
- Sighting distance improvements
- Closure of the crossing (PDF, 52.33 KB)
Level Crossing Improvement Program
We allocate supplementary funding for level crossing upgrades and to support initiatives such as safety awareness and police enforcement campaigns through the Level Crossing Improvement Program (LCIP).
Upgrade locations funded by the LCIP are identified through a priority ranking approach using the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM), a review of NSW safety incident data and consultation with relevant road managers and rail infrastructure managers.
Level Crossing Strategy Council Strategic Plan 2021-2030
The Level Crossing Strategy Council Strategic Plan 2021-30 (PDF, 710.48 KB) was developed by the Level Crossing Strategy Council (LCSC) to guide their work from 2021 to 2030 to further improve the safety of level crossings. This Plan builds on the successes and momentum created by the previous Strategic Plan for NSW Level Crossings 2010-2020.
The objectives of this Strategic Plan are to eliminate collisions, reduce near misses and minimise the impact of any incidents that occur at level crossings.
Aligned with the Safe Systems approach, the LCSC will focus on three strategic priorities:
- safer people
- safer vehicles, speeds and infrastructure
- harnessing knowledge for safety.
The LCSC will undertake 12 initiatives organised across these three key focus areas.
Under this Strategic Plan, rail and road agencies and other stakeholders will commit to working collaboratively to achieve safer level crossings, and ultimately create a safe and efficient transport system in NSW working Towards Zero trauma.
Level Crossing Policy
To minimise risks to the public, TfNSW has developed three policy positions in relation to level crossings.
Construction of New Level Crossings
Building new level crossings is to be avoided wherever possible and all other options including grade separation and use of existing level crossings should be explored before a new crossing is proposed.
Level Crossing Closures
Public and private level crossings should be closed wherever it is practical and cost effective to do so. Access can often be managed by a grade separation or by redirecting traffic via an alternate route.
Speed Limit on Approach to Active Level Crossings Policy
The purpose of this policy is to set speed limits to a maximum of 80 kilometres per hour on approach to level crossings actively controlled by flashing lights or flashing lights and boom gates.
This policy will reduce the risk of crashes between road vehicles and trains at level crossings. Reducing road speeds to a maximum of 80 kilometres per hour allows motorists more time to react and decreases the likelihood of vehicles not being able to stop at level crossings.
A Transport program to reduce the speed at 103 level crossings was completed in June 2023. Level crossings that are actively controlled by flashing lights or flashing lights and boom gates and had speed limits greater than 80 km/h, had their speed limits set to a maximum of 80 km/h on approach to the level crossing.
Research and innovation
Transport collaborates with key industry stakeholders to undertake targeted, applied research and strategic analysis to solve issues raised by rail industry participants or other stakeholders in the broader transport sector. This is to support and ensure both the continued improvement in productivity, to underpin the competitive position of the Australasian rail industry, and to drive safety improvements across the sector.
State and national forums
National Level Crossing Safety Committee
The National Level Crossing Safety Committee ensures a nationally consistent, cooperative and collaborative approach to level crossing safety and governance. It also guides the implementation of actions at a national level to reduce the likelihood of crashes and near hits at level crossings.
National Level Crossing Safety Committee members are representatives from government and regulatory bodies across all Australian jurisdictions.
National Level Crossing Safety Committee (NLCSC) membership organisations:
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Transport for New South Wales
- Victoria Department of Transport and Planning
- South Australia Department for Infrastructure and Transport
- Main Roads Western Australia
- Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
- Tasmania Department of State Growth
- Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications & the Arts
- Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency
- Australian Local Government Association
- Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator
- National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
- TrackSAFE Foundation
- Australasian Railway Association.
The National Level Crossing Safety Committee (NLCSC) commissioned the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy and Work Plan in 2022. The Strategy and Work Plan was approved by the Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials' Committee (ITSOC) and the Infrastructure and Transport and Minister's Meeting (ITMM) in 2023. The National Level Crossing Safety Strategy (2023-2032) can be accessed here.
Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model National Committee
The Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model National Committee (National ALCAM Committee) meets every three months and has representation from state jurisdictions, the Northern Territory and New Zealand.
The National ALCAM Committee oversees the application and development of the ALCAM.
Level Crossing Strategy Council
In NSW, the Level Crossing Strategy Council meets every second month and is supported by officer level working groups.
Infrastructure and Transport Ministers' Meetings
The Infrastructure and Transport Ministers' Meetings (ITMM) provide a forum for intergovernmental collaboration, decision-making and progressing priorities of national importance. ITMM facilitates work with the Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments to enable national cooperation and consistency on enduring strategic issues, address issues requiring cross-border collaboration, and perform regulatory policy and standard setting functions.
Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials’ Committee
The Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials’ Committee (ITSOC) supports the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (ITMM) by considering and providing advice on proposals before ITMM consideration, approving items on behalf of ITMM that are outside of ITMM’s key priorities (excluding those required by legislation) and considering industry views to inform the ITMM.
Level Crossing Improvement Program – Regional Council Minor Works
Introduction
The Level Crossing Improvement Program - Regional Council Minor Works (LCIP – RCMW) is designed to enhance safety at level rail crossings across New South Wales by funding minor safety improvements on local and regional roads. Regional councils are invited to apply for funding to support these crucial safety initiatives.
Program objective
The primary objective of the LCIP – RCMW is to improve safety around public level crossings. By focusing on minor, low-cost engineering works and safety improvements, the Program aims to reduce the risk of crashes and enhance the overall safety of regional level crossings.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants for the LCIP – RCMW are regional councils in New South Wales with public level crossings. Projects must focus on minor works and safety improvements on road approaches to public rail level crossings. All applications will be assessed based on specific eligibility and assessment criteria outlined in the Program guidelines.
Funding applications
Transport is seeking applications from eligible regional councils for funding consideration. The application process involves submitting detailed project proposals that meet the Program's criteria. A total of $1million in funding is available for the 2025/26 financial year. Each funding allocation will be capped at $200,000.
Applications must be submitted through One GMS and open March 17 2025 and close 2 May 2025
Documents and resources
Contact us
For more information about the LCIP – RCMW please contact us at: CouncilLXMinorWorks@transport.nsw.gov.au