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Level Crossing Safety & Accident Investigation

Level Crossing Safety & Accident Investigation. International Rail Safety Conference Goa - 2007 Tony Simes Senior Transport Safety Investigator ATSB 30 Sept – 6 Oct 2007. The Rail Environment in Australia. Developed as a collection of separate State-based rail networks

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Level Crossing Safety & Accident Investigation

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  1. Level Crossing Safety & Accident Investigation International Rail Safety Conference Goa - 2007 Tony Simes Senior Transport Safety Investigator ATSB 30 Sept – 6 Oct 2007

  2. The Rail Environment in Australia • Developed as a collection of separate State-based rail networks • Federal Government push for reform over past 30 years • Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) - Access • Private sector involvement - Operations • Rail Safety Regulation • State based legislation • State based regulator • Co-regulatory framework • Rail Safety Investigation • Federal based legislation (for interstate trains) • Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)

  3. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Accident Investigations • Aviation • Marine • Rail Research Investigations • Road / Aviation / Marine / Rail

  4. ATSB Mission The ATSB contributes to the wellbeing of all Australians by maintaining and improving transport safety and public confidence through excellence in: • independent investigation of transport accidents and other safety occurrences • safety data recording, analysis and research; and • raising safety awareness and knowledge

  5. Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 • ATSB investigations do not apportion blame or liability • Investigation reports cannot be used as evidence in civil or criminal proceedings • All investigation reports must be publicly released • The TSI Act gives the ATSB considerable investigative powers

  6. Defined Interstate Rail Network (DIRN) Darwin Brisbane Perth Sydney Adelaide Melbourne

  7. Rail Investigation Team • Adelaide (South Australia) • 4 Investigators • Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) • 2 Investigators • 2 Investigators (shared with Marine Team) • Brisbane (Queensland) • 1 Investigator

  8. Level Crossing Traffic Control Passive Control • Relies on the road user detecting the approach or presence of a train through direct observation and reacting accordingly Active Control • Relies on the road user sighting the flashing lights, recognising their intended message and reacting accordingly • removes the requirement for direct observation of an approaching train

  9. Railway Level Crossings in Australia • Over 9000 public level crossings in Australia • Only about 30% have active traffic control

  10. Level Crossings Accidents • The ATSB has investigated 15 significant level crossing accidents over the past five years • 1 involved a passenger bus • 4 involved cars • 10 involved trucks • Only one involved failed level crossing traffic control • Traffic Control • 9 at passive control crossings • 6 at active control crossings

  11. Salisbury (South Australia)24 Oct 2002 • 4 people killed • 26 people injured • Human error (vehicle drivers) • Traffic queuing

  12. Aloomba (Queensland)23 May 2003 • 1 person killed • 2 people injured • Human error (vehicle driver) • Crossing design and sighting

  13. Horsham (Victoria)11 Aug 2005 • Human error (vehicle driver) • 1 person killed

  14. Albury (New South Wales)5 Jun 2006 • 1 person killed • Human error (vehicle driver) • Drugs • Mobile phone

  15. Kalgoorlie (Western Australia)14 May 2007 • Equipment failure • Ongoing investigation • 1 person injured

  16. Heavy Vehicles in Australia Road-Trains • 25m - 53.5 m long, some up to 175 tonnes in total weight. • Road-trains in Australia are the largest in terms of weight and length allowed on public roads in the world. Standard Trucks • Rigid trucks / trailers (12m - 19m long) • Semi-trailer trucks (19m - 25m long)

  17. Benalla (Victoria)13 Oct 2002 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Crossing design and sighting • 3 people killed (on train) • 1 person injured (on train)

  18. Lismore (Victoria)25 May 2006 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Environmental conditions • 1 person killed (truck driver)

  19. Tailem Bend (South Australia)4 Oct 2006 • 1 person injured • Human error (vehicle driver)

  20. Elizabeth River (Northern Territory)20 Oct 2006 • 2 locomotive drivers injured • Human error (vehicle driver) • Crossing design • Train conspicuity

  21. Illabo (New South Wales)2 Nov 2006 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Ongoing investigation • no injuries

  22. Wingeel (Victoria)15 Nov 2006 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Ongoing investigation • 1 person killed (truck driver)

  23. Ban Ban Springs (Northern Territory)12 Dec 2006 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Ongoing investigation • 2 significant injuries (truck driver and a train passenger) • Several other minor injuries

  24. Back Creek (New South Wales)10 Mar 2007 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Ongoing investigation • 1 person killed • 2 locomotive drivers injured

  25. Kerang (Victoria)5 June 2007 • 11 people killed • 14 people injured • Human error (vehicle driver) • Ongoing investigation assisted by the ATSB

  26. Two Wells (South Australia)6 August 2007 • Human error (vehicle driver) • Ongoing investigation • 1 person injured (Truck driver)

  27. Different perspectives create challenges associated with improving level crossing safety • Road safety perspective. • Less than 1% of road crash deaths in Australia occur at level crossings • Funding is generally directed towards where the majority of deaths occur (roads) • Rail safety perspective • Level crossing accidents usually result in death or serious injury • Generally account for a large proportion of fatalities associated with the railway • Actions of third parties are largely beyond the control of railway organisations. • Community perspective • Recognise that sharing the road with other road users increases the risk of collision • By comparison, level crossing accidents are rare, have a high profile in the media and can have significant emotional impact on local communities • Heightened community focus directed towards the rail system, along with vigorous attempts to identify shortcomings in the railway crossing protection systems • Belief that level crossings needed to be better protected rather than focus on road rules that may have been ignored

  28. Level Crossing Safety Improvements(Investigation outcomes) • Public awareness and law enforcement • Re-design of the road / rail interface (layout, road signals etc.) • Re-assessment of bus / heavy vehicle routes • Closure of the level crossing and grade separation • Restricting access (truck size limits) • Improving conspicuity of trains (flashing ditch lights) • Recognition of the risk posed by large, long, heavy vehicles • Ensuring sighting requirements are suitable for all vehicles

  29. National Safety Initiatives • Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM) • National Railway Level Crossing Behavioural Plan (Australasian Railway Association) State Safety Initiatives • Safety education campaigns in most Australian states • Some states have initiated major infrastructure upgrade programs to improve safety at railway level crossings • Other initiatives both national and state based

  30. Further information www.atsb.gov.au

  31. Questions International Rail Safety Conference Goa - 2007 Tony Simes Senior Transport Safety Investigator ATSB 30 Sept – 6 Oct 2007

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