Enhancing Safety at Level Crossings - Overview and Actions Taken

1. ISRAEL RAIL COMPANY General Overview השוואת תנאי עבודת עתקים ודרישות בטיחות נעשתה בהתאם לדו"ח מבקר 3/13. Udi Kaplansky (MSc. Safety Engineering) VP Safety, Security, Environment and Standards

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7. Improving Safety at Level Crossings השוואת תנאי עבודת עתקים ודרישות בטיחות נעשתה בהתאם לדו"ח מבקר 3/13. Udi Kaplansky (MSc. Safety Engineering) VP Safety, Security, Environment and Standards

8. BACKGROUND • 2 major train accidents occurred during 2005 and 2006. • Casualties – first time people killed and injured inside train. • Outcome – Major organizational & conceptual changes initiated: • At ISR level. • At government level – MOT, MOF. • Safety management.

9. BACKGROUND • Understanding of the potential – Acceptance of the possibility. • Understanding of the risk – beginning of risk assessment. • Definition of 2 levels of risk: • Risk for the train – Passenger or Freight (Hazard Material). • Risk for other – trespassers, car occupants, workers, passenger at a station, damage only...

10. BACKGROUND Understanding of the risk – beginning of risk assessment • 3 major scenarios: • Derailment • Train Collision • Train – Car (Truck) Collision – at level crossing. HIGHER PROBABILITY

11. 2 Main Courses of Action Level Crossing maintenance & improvement Grade Separation

12. Safety Actions Taken Government Level • Nomination of Railways Regulator function within the Ministry of Transportation. • Promotion of statutory planning for Grade Separations - MOIA. • Setting a plan for grade separation (MOT). • Allocation of resources – a long term multi-year plan (MOT, MOF).

13. GRADE SEPARATION • 55 Grade Separations were built (of 154 existing LC on 2006). • 34 of them were built by ISR.

14. LEVEL CROSSING • Remaining LC - 76: • 57 on main lines (passenger & freight) including 7 pedestrian LC + 4 closed with gates. • 11 on sidings – only freight lines, limited speed (max 60 km/h), barriers. • 8 on industrial plants – only freight lines, limited speed.

15. LEVEL CROSSING

16. Level Crossings - Safety Activity Government Level • Establishment of Level Crossings & Grade Separation Administrative Committee, (Inter-ministerial) managed by the General Manager of MOT. • Setting a plan for grade separation (ISR, MOT, MOF). • Defining a Ranking Model for LC based on risk level assessment and budget. - How much safety can be achieved per €. • Update instructions for level crossing planning. • Law Enforcement.

17. Level Crossings - Safety Activity ISR Level • A British consulting firm for railways safety was hired to independently analyze ISR safety status. • Definition of Safety Plan - necessary steps to be taken by ISR. • Establishment of Safety Division (2006) – division director at a VP level. • Establishment of Road & Traffic Arrangement department as part of the Safety Division .

18. Level Crossings - Safety Activity ISR Level • Defining steps to be taken to reduce Level Crossing Hazards and setting : • 1st Step - all Level Crossings on passenger lines were protected with barriers, flashing lights, bells and traffic signs. All barriers are SIL4. • Definition of a Minimum set of actions and devices to be implemented at LC according to characteristics – a threshold Standard LC “Suit”. • Prevention by technological and non-technological means. • A Plan for implementation at all LC according to Risk Rank.

19. Level Crossings - Safety Activity ISR Level • Based on the LC Safety Survey – 2 groups of focus: • Car Drivers approaching LC – preventing the car driver from accessing the LC by means of precursory warning devices. • Train – alerting the train driver of a danger to the train by means of obstacle detection devices.

20. PRECURSORY WARNING DEVICES

21. Precursory Warning Active Signs for Vehicle Driver • In cases when there are visibility limits (limited FOV) for vehicle drivers approaching crossing, such as a curve or vegetation blocking view, there is a need to precursory alert of vehicle driver, especially when the barrier is already activated. • The system consists of a permanent traffic sign integrated with flashing lights. • When the train is approaching a pulse from the train signaling system activates the flashing lights.

22. Precursory Warning Active Signs for Vehicle Driver When flashing a train is arriving – slow down for stopping

23. Precursory Warning Active Signs for Vehicle Driver

24. Vehicle queue-prevention using Precursory Traffic Lights • The profound examination of different kinds of accidents on level crossings identifies a lot of vehicle queue events, because of the traffic jam downstream. • In order to prevent cars gathering on the level crossing it was suggested to install the Precursory traffic signal about 24 meters before the barrier.

25. Vehicle queue-prevention using Precursory Traffic Lights • The system consists of traffic lights, controller, and queue detector downstream. • The controller receives continuous pulse from train signaling system when barrier is activated. • The light switches to red when: • Train approaches • X seconds of continuous occupation of queue detector (X is preset according to LC characteristics)

26. Precursory Traffic Lights

27. Precursory Traffic Lights

28. Precursory Traffic Lights

29. Precursory Traffic Lights

30. OBSTACLE DETECTION DEVICES

31. Radar Scanning System 33

32. Emergency Phone Emergency center *2442 LC 139

33. Loop Detection and Warning System

34. Loop Detection and Warning System Strategy • Add this system to all main line LC as part of the Basic Protection “Suit” in addition to barrier, flashing lights, bells and traffic signs. • The logic - to implement a reliable relatively cheap (therefore can be widely installed) obstacle detection system at all LC (actively or passively protected), as part of the basic standard suit instead of limited installation of well known extremely expensive devices (such as radar scan or video motion detection camera).

35. Loop System – Principles of Operation Barrier Activation CELL VHF Safety Control Center 37

36. Loop System Control Center View

37. Loop System Detectors 39

38. Loop System Control Camera 40

39. Loop Detectors System • Loop detector system solution was selected because: • Proven all weather reliability • Sensor - familiar and commonly used device • Quick and low-cost installation • Simple and low-cost maintenance • Not susceptible to vandalism

40. Loop Detection and Warning System • Loop Detection and Warning System is implemented at 63 LC. • This include all main lines - passenger and freight.

41. Level Crossings - Safety Activity ISR Level • Conducting a routine of repeating surveys and continuous maintenance of all LC several times a year. • Conducting a routine of LC risk assessment each month checking the status of all LC, trend and precursors. • Implementing safety improvements at LC – general repairs, asphalt, repainting of signs, lightning, signaling etc. • Synchronizing LC Precursory Traffic Lights with junction traffic lights (when close). • All LC are periodically supervised by MOT Regulator.

42. How do we know that it’s working? Yearly Barrier Braking by Car

43. END THANK YOU