Improved safety for pedestrians at rail crossings

Auckland Transport media release

10 April 2018

Improved safety for pedestrians at rail crossings

Auckland Transport (AT) and KiwiRail have begun to install automatic safety swing gates to keep pedestrians safe at rail crossings across the city.

The pedestrian crossing at Metcalfe Road in Ranui was the first to have safety swing gates installed last year. Work will be carried out at the crossings at Asquith Avenue and Rossgrove Terrace (Baldwin Avenue Station), Fruitvale Road Station and the crossings at Woodward Road and Lloyd Avenue (Mount Albert Station). These are expected to be operational by May-June this year (weather dependant).

The gates are activated by a sensor on the tracks, and have a safety zone with an emergency exit gate. When a train approaches these pedestrian level crossings, the bells sound, red lights flash on and off and the crossing gates close automatically.

David Nelson, AT’s Group Manager, Major Projects says keeping pedestrians, especially our children safe, is imperative. “We are working to make public transport travel safe for everyone. There have been some tragedies at certain pedestrian level crossings and these gates will go a long way to ensure greater safety for all.”

Graeme Easte of the Albert-Eden Local Board, who has been a long-time rail crossing safety advocate, welcomes the installation of the gates. “All rail crossings carry some risk so Albert-Eden Local Board is pleased to see Auckland Transport and KiwiRail partnering on this programme, which should greatly reduce this risk.”

TrackSAFE Manager Megan Drayton says she commends Auckland Transport and KiwiRail on their programme to upgrade pedestrian level crossings in Auckland. “Every incident on the rail network results in trauma not just for the victim, but also that person’s friends, whanau and the wider community. Collisions are also extremely traumatic for train drivers.

“We support this programme, which will provide immediate safety benefits for pedestrians and cyclists needing to cross railway tracks as part of their daily lives. We also encourage people to expect trains from both directions and check to see the tracks are completely clear before crossing. People should also stay alert, and avoid using headphones or mobile phones anywhere near roads or the railway.”

Project details

• Auckland Transport is gating several pedestrian level crossing across train tracks at Baldwin Avenue, Mount Albert and Fruitvale Road Stations

• These will be followed by the crossings at Woodward Road and Lloyd Avenue in Mt Albert

• The project aims to improve safety for pedestrians, especially school children who cross over the tracks regularly

• The new pedestrian safety swing gates are activated by a sensor on the tracks and have a safety zone with an emergency exit gate

• When a train approaches, the bells sound, red lights flash and the crossing gate will automatically close

• Pedestrians are advised to stay behind the swing gate and wait until it is fully open before crossing

• When pedestrians have started to cross and the gates start closing, they can:

o Continue crossing the tracks to the other side and wait in the safe zone in front of the emergency exit gate,

o Return to the safe zone that they entered

• Once pedestrians are in the safety zone (on the other side), they can push the emergency exit gate to walk through

o If there is no push button, they can simply push the gate to exit.

For more information on the electronic ticketing gates project visit at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/train-stations-pedestrian-level-crossing/

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