Seventh International Level Crossing Awareness Day

Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works and Richard Walker, Metrorail Regional Manager

Today (3 June 2015) marks the seventh International Level Crossing Awareness Day commemorated across the world. This day serves as a constant reminder to motorists to ensure that they exercise extreme caution when interacting with level crossings. In the Western Cape, there remains no more tragic reminder of such dangers than the tragic minibus taxi crash of 25 August 2010, at the Buttskop level crossing, where 10 school children were killed, and others injured.

Through our collective efforts as the Western Cape Government and Metrorail, and in partnership with municipal and national government, we continue to work together to ensure safety and compliance at all level crossings across the province, as well as moving towards a situation where fewer and fewer vehicles and people need to cross railway tracks.

The next step is indeed to consolidate or eliminate level crossings altogether. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), in partnership with the Western Cape Government, is planning to develop suitable proposals to eliminate Koelenhof/Elsenberg, Buttskop and Military Road level crossings. These projects are in conceptual planning phase to develop road-over-rail bridges where possible. In the interim, at Buttskop, we have implemented the CCTV level-crossing camera enforcement system, first implemented at the White Road level crossing. With this system, offenders will face stiff fines, starting at R500 for failure to stop before crossing the level crossing.  They may also face arrest and charges of reckless and negligent driving, for example, if the booms are ignored.

To date, the booms at the Buttskop level crossing had been repaired no fewer than 49 times, Military Road’s repairs total 76 since January this year. At an average cost of R2 000 a time, more than R250 000 has already been spent on those two crossings. Repairs to damaged booms occur between 12 and 29 times a month. This shows the very serious disregard for safety exhibited by some motorists when it comes to level crossings.

As part of the Level crossing elimination programme, the construction of a bridge over the railway line at Vlaeberg Road is well under way and nearing completion. The project is financed by the Western Cape Government, with a contribution by PRASA, at a cost totalling R70.7 million.

The Western Cape Metrorail region has the highest number of level crossings (40) within its rail network. Thirty seven (37) of these belong to PRASA; the remaining three belong to Transnet Freight Rail but are also used by Metrorail.

The first phase of the project will comprise:

• The building of an overhead bridge at Vlaeberg level crossing.
• The erection of a footbridge for pedestrians at Lynedoch level crossing.
• The upgrading of Metrorail’s service road in the section between Vlaeberg and Vlottenberg to a provincial road.

These three projects will result in the elimination of six (6) level crossings. In addition, two farm crossings will be eliminated by the building of under-passes for the exclusive use of farmers bringing the total number of crossings to be eliminated to eight.

This project is expected to be completed in July this year (2015).

We will continue to look at ways to improve safety at all level crossings, but we can only do that if motorists play their part and exercise responsibility and caution when interacting with level crossings. This will ensure that some of the horrific incidents we have seen at level crossings do not occur again.

Level Crossing Facts and Safety Tips

1. Safety at level crossings is predominantly governed by the principles contained in the South African Road Signs Manual - road signage and lights at level crossings are the primary indicators; barriers/booms are affixed as an additional precaution.
2. Train drivers are obligated to sound sirens on approach to level crossings.
3. Trains operate with their head lights on as an additional safety measure.
4. Trains LEGALLY have right of way at road/rail level crossing intersections.
5. Trains operate on fixed infrastructure and cannot take evasive action during emergencies.
6. A full train will take up to 500 meters to stop under emergency conditions.
7. Where level crossings are protected by lights and barriers, the lights will start flashing 30 seconds before an approaching train enters the level crossing intersection.
8. Barriers drop 10 seconds before the train enters the intersection and remain closed until the last carriage safely clears the intersection. Lights continue to flash until the barrier lifts.