Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 06:35 19 Mar 2024
- Potholes leave nations' roads at 'breaking point'
- The US Navy's relentless battle against Houthi attacks
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 tomorrow - WWRUG AGM
23/03/24 - Trains restart - Minehead
02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber

No 'On This Day' events reported for 19th Mar

Train RunningCancelled
06:30 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa
07:04 Bath Spa to Filton Abbey Wood
07:45 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
08:59 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
Short Run
05:47 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
Delayed
06:04 Basingstoke to Reading
06:40 Reading to Basingstoke
PollsOpen and recent polls
Open to 25/03 16:00 Easter Escape - to where?
Closed 2024-03-16 Should our rail network go cashless
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 19, 2024, 06:42:13 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[88] Where would you recommend for an Easter Escape?
[77] More travels ... more looking at how others do it ...
[74] M25 motorway issue: a most illuminating Twitter thread.
[62] Briefing on forthcoming changes - from GWR on 14.3.2024
[56] A daily picture from my recent travels
[40] Europeran Rail Timetable
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: New technology applied to foot crossing at Stonehouse  (Read 3792 times)
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 9801



View Profile
« on: July 10, 2022, 09:51:42 »

From the Independent

Quote
Level crossing waiting times are set to be cut across Britain after the rollout of new technology was given the go ahead.

Network Rail said the successful trial of a speed-detection technique means it will be available for use at “complex” crossings nationwide.

The system is different to traditional methods as it differentiates between trains calling at a nearby station and those passing through without stopping.

(continues in link)

Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7148


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2022, 10:43:34 »

That's taken from PA (Public Address) News, though I think it's been cut down. Most locals have the full piece, with attribution, e.g. the Southend Echo. Network Rail had a rather different slant in their coverage of the trial site at Stonehouse:
Quote
Improved safety for people crossing the railway in Stroud thanks to award-nominated innovative pilot project

The local community in Stonehouse, Stroud, are now able to cross the railway more safely following a recent upgrade of Globe Inn level crossing.

Globe Inn level crossing on the railway line between Stonehouse and Gloucester has recently been enhanced and now features a clear and simple to use traffic light style red and green light.

Globe Inn level crossing is on a busy urban footpath that links a local housing estate to Stonehouse town centre.

Prior to the pilot project, the crossing used an audible-only alarm system to alert pedestrians of an oncoming train. However, they faced inconsistent and lengthy waits as the alarm would sound for anywhere between 30 seconds and five minutes because it could not differentiate between a train calling at Stonehouse Station and a fast train passing non-stop. This meant some people would take dangerous risks, crossing the line while the warning was sounding and into the path of an oncoming train.

Network Rail recognised this issue so selected the crossing as one of the very first sites to trial new speed-detection technology, enhancing safety for level crossing users.

The new system uses a red light and alarm when a train is due that has a more consistent warning time of around 18-25 seconds, giving users a more reliable warning. When it is safe to cross, a green light shows.

As part of this upgrade, Network Rail also replaced the old, worn steps, adding a new surface for walkers to use, removing overgrown vegetation and erecting new signage.

This project to enhance Globe Inn level crossing has also been recognised within the rail industry, having been shortlisted for an ‘Innovation of the Year’ award at the National Rail Awards.

The success of the trial now means that this technology will be available for use at other complex level crossings, enhancing safety across the whole of the UK (United Kingdom) rail network.

Richard Pedley, Network Rail’s Western route level crossing manager, said: “We’re pleased that this trial has proved so successful and provides a great example for roll out at similar level crossings nationwide where trains are likely to stop close by.

“The red/green light system, with its consistent warning time will improve the confidence of users who need to cross the railway and reduce the amount of safety incidents. 

“We’d like to thank the local community for their patience while we carried out this work and hope that they find the new system more reliable and easier to use.”
« Last Edit: July 10, 2022, 13:52:18 by stuving » Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5396



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2022, 11:18:19 »

This sounds like a worthwhile improvement, but presumably still suffers from the drawback that many colour blind people will not be able to reliably distinguish between the red and green lights.

I have previously suggested several ways in which the colour light signals to pedestrians could be improved.

Firstly, use a horizontal line of red lights for stop, and a vertical line of green lights for go. A bit like tramway signals but with coloured lights.

Or secondly use a flashing red light for stop and a steady green light for go.

Or another alternative of a red light for stop and a bluish green for go. As used for traffic lights in Japan.

Any of the above would be readily seen by anyone with colour blindness, but still retain the traditional red and green colours that are widely used and readily understood by those with normal colour vision.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40646



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2022, 11:39:07 »

This sounds like a worthwhile improvement, but presumably still suffers from the drawback that many colour blind people will not be able to reliably distinguish between the red and green lights.

It would appear from the Network Rail picture that they are labelled "Stop" and "Clear" and have the words "Red" and "Green" on them, though I don't know how visible that print will be in the dark.  How about the same standard as the road pedestrian lights - with a picture of a person stopped on the red light, and walking on the green one. Pedestrians on rail crossings probably have to cross roads as well sometimes and probably know the system - does rail need to have different signing??
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 9801



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2022, 12:24:32 »

At least the red is above the green unlike the multi-aspect (pre-LED) running signals which have red at the bottom.
Logged
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2022, 14:02:03 »

This sounds like a worthwhile improvement, but presumably still suffers from the drawback that many colour blind people will not be able to reliably distinguish between the red and green lights.

It would appear from the Network Rail picture that they are labelled "Stop" and "Clear" and have the words "Red" and "Green" on them, though I don't know how visible that print will be in the dark.  How about the same standard as the road pedestrian lights - with a picture of a person stopped on the red light, and walking on the green one. Pedestrians on rail crossings probably have to cross roads as well sometimes and probably know the system - does rail need to have different signing??
Many/most pedestrians, in the UK (United Kingdom), don't always wait for the green man. Even in countries where it's illegal to cross on red man, compliance is a long way from 100%. And we want people to treat these rail crossing lights more seriously – because the ability to judge for yourself whether it's safe to cross is so much less.
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12330


View Profile Email
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2022, 17:46:37 »

I would respectfully suggest that if they're going to ignore the recognised signals, they'll choose to ignore anything provided?
Logged
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4451


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2022, 09:04:52 »

I would respectfully suggest that if they're going to ignore the recognised signals, they'll choose to ignore anything provided?

We cannot stop people ignoring signals, but if they are consistent in their timing rather than sometimes being for an unnecessarily long period, then fewer people will ignore them and safety will be improved.
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12330


View Profile Email
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2022, 16:45:07 »

Network Rail supplied photo....



Logged
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2022, 08:44:32 »

Those signs. Fugliness aside, there's a *lot* of word salad there.

Mark
Logged
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4451


View Profile
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2022, 20:27:53 »

word salad

Had to look it up.

Quote
a confused or unintelligible mixture of seemingly random words and phrases, specifically (in psychiatry) as a form of speech indicative of advanced schizophrenia.

Every day is a school day
Logged
MVR S&T
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 437


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2022, 22:29:44 »

Quite a few distracting steps too, to get you up to a good veiwing height, but to then fall, on the running line...
Logged
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: July 13, 2022, 11:11:36 »

The blue sign under the lights, "Red lights may remain on longer for stopping trains", what are you supposed to do with this knowledge? And I thought this was what the new system was supposed to eliminate.
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7148


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2022, 13:11:41 »

The blue sign under the lights, "Red lights may remain on longer for stopping trains", what are you supposed to do with this knowledge? And I thought this was what the new system was supposed to eliminate.

At last! A comment about what was the point of that news item; so far everyone has been going on about the red/green lights which of an established design, in use for years.

NR» (Network Rail - home page) seem to have some kind of new predictor system here, though I've not found anything to say what it is. Predictors have been in use for many years, though are not without their problems. You may remember there was a big panic, about them letting crossings open when a train was still approaching, in Norfolk a couple of years ago. RAIB (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) in their report picked "loss of shunt" due to poor railhead cleaning as the main cause, but the systems are not as robust in their operation as they should be. (There is an article about this in IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) News.)

That system was the HXP3 (usually identified as "Harmon", though it's now made by Alstom). This was designed in the USA for their conditions, and needs a bit of tweaking to make it work here. Perhaps this "new" system is a better fit ... or perhaps it uses more sensors, rather than relying on rail resistance like the HXP3. But the use of the HXP3 is "new" on the railway's timescale, being post 2000.

And in answer to Bmblbzzz - yes, the use of a predictor (any predictor) will remove most of the excess delay, but the time from crossing close to open will still be longer for a train that stops at the station than for one passing through.
Logged
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: July 13, 2022, 15:13:58 »

Not suggesting any additions to the signage, but any teenagers reading, if you're lucky enough to have parents and also a foot crossing local to you, take them to the crossing and while in a place of safety outside the crossing gates ask everyone to risk assess the dangers - with recognition of the one that's not immediately apparent, the ease with which the approach of a second train can be masked by the first.

Mark
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page