Level crossings in New Zealand

On the Taieri Gorge Railway in rural South Island, roads and railways share the same bridge when crossing a river, with the rail line in the road. Motorists, as well as giving way to oncoming traffic if required (the bridges have one lane) must ensure that the bridge is clear of a train, end to end, before starting to cross the bridge. For safety, trains are limited to 10 km/h (6 mph) while crossing the bridges.

The first railway in New Zealand was the short Ferrymead Railway from Christchurch in 1863 (see NZ Rail 150), but laying of new lines was slow until the Vogel Era when some thousand miles (1,600 km) of track was laid in seven years from 1874. Lines were initially basic, with improvements made as traffic increased (in the American pattern). Level crossings were preceded by a warning sign only. See photo of Johnsonville railway station c1910 with level crossing in foreground.[5]

In the early 20th century, some waning devices (both American and locally developed) were introduced on trial, and eventually lights, bells and (at some crossings) automatic half-arm barriers became standard.

In 1924 a motorcyclist in Christchurch was fined for ignoring a crossing-keeper when a shunting engine was approaching the crossing.[6]

In 1955 the Minister of Railways John McAlpine intervened to have barriers installed at a busy Riccarton crossing in Christchurch.[7]

A level crossing near Gisborne, sees the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line cross one of Gisborne Airport's runways. Aircraft landing on sealed 1310-metre runway 14L/32R are signalled with two red flashing lights on either side of the runway and a horizontal bar of flashing red lights to indicate the runway south of the railway line is closed, and may only land on the 866 metres (2,841 ft) section of the runway north of the railway line. When the full length of the runway is open, a vertical bar of green lights signals to the aircraft, with regular rail signals on either side of the runway indicating trains to stop.[8][9] This crossing is in regular use by the Gisborne City Vintage Railway.

In 2018 KiwiRail decided to cease turning off some warning bells between 10.30 pm and 7 am because of the number of "near misses" with pedestrians.[10]

In 2019, KiwiRail changed the rate of flashing lights at level crossings from 85 fpm (flashes per minute) to the standard laid down by the "American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association" of 50 fpm so that a new order for level crossing equipment did not have non-standard requirements.[11] In 2019 for Rail Safety Week, KiwiRail installed 'near miss memorials' at level crossings, which were half crosses with a QR code on them linking to a video of a real near miss and a story on how it impacted the train driver.[12]

In 2021 there were calls to fast-track upgrades to Wairarapa crossings at Carterton and Featherston after fatal level crossing accidents; the commuter Wairarapa Connection is to run more frequently.[13]

In 2023, Kiwirail said that ten people had lost their lives last year. [14]

A KiwiRail proposal to close five level crossings in the Wairarapa regarded as hazardous aroused mass local opposition.[15] At a Wairarapa level crossing where a woman was seriously injured, police ticketed sixteen drivers in one day![16]

Near-misses are common in Auckland and Wellington where there are frequent commuter trains on double-tracks where a train may be followed by another train in the opposite direction (sometimes a non-stop freight train). [17][18] At some crossings, pedestrian gates have been added, which lock automatically when a train is approaching.[19]

KiwiRail runs a public campaign educating the public on rail safety. It is known as the Rail Safety Week, which runs in the second week of August every year.[20]

Level crossing accidents and incidents fall within the scope of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) as rail accident investigator.

• "KiwiRail Safety Centre". KiwiRail. 2023.
• "Near misses still take toll at level crossings". KiwiRail. 2023.
• "KiwiRail: Safety in the community: Meet Steely Stan (and his horse)". KiwiRail. 2023.
• "KiwiRail on Level Crossings". KiwiRail. 2023.