Improving safety at level crossings

As part of the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 works, all public and private level crossings on this section will receive safety upgrades to achieve compliance with current Australian and ARTC standards.

All crossings will get upgraded signage (see above new signage at a recently upgraded passive crossing), upgraded road approaches and new rubber crossing panels, which reduce the time it takes for a vehicle to traverse the level crossing.

At all level crossings – take care and observe all signs and signals. Stop, Look, Listen and Cross – Stay Rail Safe.

ARTC Inland Rail utilises a consistent safety-based approach for determining public level crossing treatments. This includes a national system called the Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM) which considers factors including road and rail traffic numbers, vehicle types, speeds, and sighting distances.

Using this approach, 10 passive crossings (which are controlled by stop or give way signs) have been identified for an active crossing upgrade to improve public safety.

The 10 public crossings being upgraded with flashing lights, bells and boom barriers are:

1. Tarlee Road LX, Edgeroi
2. Penneys Road LX, Penneys Road
3. Millie Road LX, Bellata
4. Gurley Creek Road LX, Gurley
5. County Boundary Road LX, Milguy
6. Croppa Creek Road LX, Crooble
7. Buckie Road LX, Croppa Creek
8. Croppa Moree Road LX, Croppa Creek
9. Croppa Creek Road LX, North Star
10. I B Bore Road LX, North Star

With the number and lengths of heavy vehicles using the road network increasing, our level crossing modelling:

• Used 2040 road and rail traffic volumes to determine level crossing treatments
• Ensured there is sufficient space between the level crossing and a neighbouring intersection. This is especially visible along the Newell Highway, where the rail line runs parallel to the highway
• Provided sufficient stacking distance for 36.5m road trains (b-triples). In some cases, this involved shifting the rail line further away from the Newell Highway.

All private passive crossings will have fencing, gates, signage and road approaches upgraded as part of the project where required. Rubber crossing panels will also be installed at these crossings.

Want to learn more about how we plan and build level crossings at Inland Rail? Read our fact sheet now. And watch the video below to see one of the newly upgraded active level crossings along the N2NS Phase 1 alignment in action.

Above image: pssive level crossing north of Narrabri

Below video: a newly installed active level crossing being tested prior to last year’s line re-opening at Gurley Creek Road, Gurley.