Regional level crossings

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/1607-2021.pdf

Question on Notice

No. 1607

Asked on 2 December 2021

MR N DAMETTO ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the infrastructure installed at Tokalon Road, Ingham, approximately three years
ago, to support a crossing and recent Queensland Rail advice that Tokalon Road, Ingham
remains a priority, that design and scoping has commenced and the works are envisaged to be
completed by the end of 2021—

Will the Minister update the residents of Hinchinbrook when this important safety project will be
completed?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Hinchinbrook for the question.

Safety is Queensland Rail's number one priority, with a strong focus on ensuring safety and
compliance at level crossings. All Queensland Rail level crossings are designed and operated in
accordance with national safety standards, and are assessed using the Australian Level Crossing
Assessment Model.

Queensland Rail currently has an $18 million program in place to upgrade level crossings across
regional Queensland from passive protection, such as warning signs, to active protection
including automatic flashing lights, warning sounds, and barriers or boom gates.
With regard to the level crossing at Tokalon Road, Ingham Queensland Rail remains committed
to delivering this upgrade.

Queensland Rail is aiming to formalise the engagement of the contractor in the coming month,
with the level crossing works and commissioning to be completed in 2022. The dates will be
confirmed once the contractor is formally engaged.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Retired train driver backs union calls to divert Rockhampton's 'dangerous' city freight line

Paul McKenna can still feel the dread in his stomach when he thinks about driving his locomotive along Rockhampton's Denison Street.

Key points:

Retired train driver Paul McKenna says the Rockhampton rail level crossing is one of the most dangerous he's encountered when it comes to near misses

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is calling on Queensland Rail to change the rail freight route, so it bypasses Rockhampton city

Queensland Rail says there are no plans to upgrade the level crossing

"It's sheer luck that there hasn't been more people killed down that street," he says.

For a two-kilometre stretch through the middle of Rockhampton, freight trains travel down the middle of Denison street after leaving the Rockhampton station yard.

It's one of the only freight lines in Queensland that still runs through the middle of a city, according to the Rail Union.

Mr McKenna, a retired train driver from Yeppoon who spent 33 years in the industry, said he would encounter a near-miss almost every second time he would drive along the Denison street line. ...

[ozbob]

Cairns Post --> Woman injured after car collides with Kuranda Scenic Rail $

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union have spoken out after a woman has been injured following a traffic incident on Collins Ave this morning after a car collided with the Kuranda Scenic Rail.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed the driver of the car, a female in her 20s, was transported to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition. ...

... Mr Allen said the union had identified 7 dangerous level crossings in Cairns that need removal and we will continue to ramp up the pressure on the Government unless we see a real plan to remove them. ..."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1689184748206481408

[ozbob]

No cables necessary! 😮 This new level crossing system at Thallon in South West Queensland is autonomous, solar powered...

Posted by Queensland Rail on Tuesday, 5 December 2023

[Redrient]

I would love to see more of these autonomous crossing systems installed out here on the Southern and Western Downs.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/1432-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1432
Asked on 15 November 2023

MR D LAST ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER FOR
DIGITAL SERVICES (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to ATSB investigation number RO-2021-005 into a level crossing collision and
given the investigation showed over 1,000 level crossings were not assessed between 2016 and
2021—
Will the Minister advise the dates on which level crossings in the Burdekin Electorate were last
assessed in accordance with the safety standard?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Burdekin for the question.

All level crossings in the Burdekin electorate are assessed in accordance with Queensland Rail's
safety standards regularly, and all inspections are up to date.

Queensland Rail safety assessments of regional level crossings are inspected every 96 hours for
all active control crossings (flashing lights, boom arms) and every seven days for all passive
control crossings (warning signs such as stop signs).

Specifically, for active control crossings, additional signalling component inspections are
undertaken monthly, quarterly and annually. At the end of November 2023, these inspections
were 100 per cent complete for all level crossings throughout Queensland Rail's regional network.

[Jonno]

Anyone know the outcome of this trial

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/73352

Innovative level crossing technology has been switched on at two North Queensland locations, as part of the Newman Government's efforts to improve road safety.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said new radio break-in technology would be switched on this week at Calcium and Broughton, between Townsville and Charters Towers, to provide added warnings to motorists at railway crossings.

"Over the next six months we'll be trialling a radio break-in system developed by La Trobe University, which alerts motorists if there is a train approaching the crossing," Mr Emerson said.

"The technology wirelessly detects the presence of motor vehicles in relation to trains and can broadcast a warning announcement through the vehicle's radio, as well as displaying a visual warning through a unit fitted above the dashboard.

"The devices were installed in 22 trains and 23 vehicles which regularly use railway crossings at Manton Quarry Road, Calcium and Gromac Quarry Access Road, Broughton.

"The trial will help determine its effectiveness and whether it can be rolled out to additional railway crossings in Queensland."

Mr Emerson said the technology was one of three being trialled as part of a $2 million investment to improve safety at railway crossings.

Two additional railway crossing safety trials would also start in the coming months to test two other innovative systems developed by NFA Innovations and Railnet Safety Systems.

"A different type of radio break-in technology and a solar-powered railway crossing warning system will be trialled at locations in south west Queensland," he said.

Last financial year there were 351 reported near misses on the Queensland Rail network, including 199 incidents in South East Queensland and 152 incidents in regional Queensland. This compares to 489 near misses the previous year.

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1793536836381671551


Couriermail --> Train wrecked after collision with truck at Toobeah, west of Goondiwindi $

Three people have miraculously avoided serious injury after a train derailment caused by a collision with a truck in Queensland's Goondiwindi Region.

The incident occurred at 1.37pm near Gooray station on Gooray Rd north of the Barwon Hwy, west of Goondiwindi.

The train reportedly hit the semi trailer at a "notorious" corner according to Toobeah publican Mick Offerdahl. ...

[Redrient]

The team at Watco shouldn't have to labour under these conditions, at repeated risk of such outcomes at rural level crossings, only for the media's choice quote at the destruction of one of their consists is that it's a win for trucking. This kind of regular bulk grain haulage (often 40 or more wagons 2-3x a week) is crucial for keeping tens of trucks off the roads to the port.

I heard that train leaving Warwick yesterday morning... now I suppose what's left will be returning on the back of a truck 

[HappyTrainGuy]

I'm surprised the frame bent easily.

[RowBro]

I'm surprised the frame bent easily.

I don't think it bent easily... look at the number of fully loaded wagons piled up. It looks like it was travelling at quite a speed when the collision occurred. It's a miracle the engineers survived.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yes it's good that their injuries weren't fatal. I was just making comment that there have been some really big monster crashes throughout the network over the decades that haven't resulted in the frame being that bent. Black mountain was another two 100kph loaded coalie derailments. Mt Isa line in the late 80's saw a massive head on crash that wrote off 3 locos.

[RowBro]

Yes it's good that their injuries weren't fatal. I was just making comment that there have been some really big monster crashes throughout the network over the decades that haven't resulted in the frame being that bent. Black mountain was another two 100kph loaded coalie derailments. Mt Isa line in the late 80's saw a massive head on crash that wrote off 3 locos.

True. By the looks of it, it seems that the wagons directly impacted in the centre of the loco which is probably quite rare for crashes.

[Redrient]

Speed boards in the area max out around 70kph. Was on those rails recently and the track is in a little bit sketchy condition, but I think they could have pretty safely been going between 60 and 70.

[ozbob]

Respect the sign. Lives are on the line.

[ozbob]

https://x.com/QueenslandRail/status/1803213674393284619?t=wz48hMewsRvx9nVswRMhSw&s=19

[ozbob]

https://x.com/QueenslandRail/status/1814404902296133834?t=yMFh9UXJrJmtmjufrfdu5A&s=19

[ozbob]

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101055

Red light level crossing cameras to be trialed as part of new Queensland Level Crossing Safety Strategy

9th August 2024

The Queensland Government has released the Queensland Level Crossing Safety Strategy, outlining a 10-year strategy aimed at making level crossings across the state safer for rail and road users.

A three-year Action Plan is being launched alongside the strategy, during Rail Safety Week, which centres around improving safety based on:

. enforcement
. education
. technology and innovation
. data capture and coordination

More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101055

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DTMR Level crossing safety > https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/safety/rail-safety/level-crossing-safety