Safety at Level Crossings

Abstract

The success of the railways hinges on the interaction between vehicles, railroad and people. As the holding company's centre of competence, the Munich Research and Technology Centre coordinates and concentrates railway know-how. Level crossings, where road and rail cross at the same level, are a sensitive point in the railroad. Accidents, irregularities and technical faults are everyday occurrences that have an at times considerable adverse impact on train quality and punctuality. As eliminating level crossings requires a great deal of planning and investment and thus cannot always be done at short notice, ensuring level crossing safety taking account of traffic requirements remains an objective.