Railway crossings
A railway crossing, also known as a level crossing, is where a public or private roadway, footpath, or both intersect one or more railway tracks.
Information on this page
Road crossings
As at 30 June 2010 there were 1,885 road level crossings on operational rail lines with the following protection:
- 807 crossings with Give Way signs
- 372 crossings with flashing lights and warning bells
- 424 with boom barriers
- 250 with stop signs
- 32 with another form of control such as traffic lights, position markers or interlocked gates
The Victorian Government has an annual level crossing control upgrade program and these figures will change as crossings are upgraded or closed.
Pedestrian crossings
As at 30 June 2010 there are 832 pedestrian railway crossings on active railway lines in Victoria.
Railway pedestrian crossings may be located on one or both sides of a road-rail level crossing or as a 'stand-alone' crossing near a railway station.
There are two types of railway pedestrian crossing protection:
- actively-protected crossings have train-activated mini booms, gates or barriers, audible warnings, line markings and safety signs
- passively-protected crib crossings have a maze and safety signs
Removing level crossings
The first three level crossings to be removed by the Victorian Government will be at:
- Rooks Road, Mitcham and Mitcham Road, Mitcham (VicRoads)
- Springvale Road, Springvale (VicRoads)
Level crossings will also be removed at the following locations:
- North Road, Ormond
- Blackburn Road, Blackburn
- Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road, Bayswater
- Main Road East and Main Road West, St Albans
- Burke Road, Gardiner
- Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena
- Anderson Road, Sunshine (two levels crossings as part of the Regional Rail Link project)
Local communities and businesses will be consulted about any planned rebuilding of stations and any impacts on local access and properties. The new stations will include ramps or subways to ensure full compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and provide full access to Victorians with a disability.
The Victorian Government is seeking Infrastructure Australia support for Commonwealth planning and development funding.
Railway crossing faults
The Victorian Government, through its agency VicTrack, owns the land and infrastructure associated with railway crossings.
Public transport operators are responsible for ongoing maintenance of railway crossings.
To report a fault with a railway crossing telephone:
- 1800 001 050 for metropolitan railway crossings
- 1800 013 007 for country railway crossings
Both numbers operate 24-hour and are toll-free. They are not emergency numbers and should only be used to report faults at level crossings.
For emergencies, telephone 000.
