Second Train Warning at Grade Crossings

A second train incident occurs when pedestrians assume that they can safely traverse at at-grade road-railway crossing, subsequent to the departure of a train, only to be met by a second train in the crossing area. A second train warning system is designed to reduce the risk of collision resulting from this situation. This study was initiated in 1998 to review the benefit and means of deployment of second train warning (STW) systems in Canada. An industry scan of train warning systems identified two active STW systems. No commercially available STW systems were identified. A functional specification for STW systems was developed. An assessment of nine candidate sites was undertaken, resulting in a recommendation for the pilot test STW site at the O’Brien Avenue crossing in Ville Saint-Laurent, Quebec. The pilot project installation consisted of static STW signs and flashing beacons at the O’Brien Avenue crossing. The results of the “before” and “after” observations demonstrated that the STW system resulted in more than a 64% decrease in total violations, which appears to be consistent with those achieved at other STW pilot program locations. It was concluded that STW systems should be pursued at sites with a high risk of second train incidents/collisions. A qualitative model was developed to rank the at-grade crossings having a potential for second train collisions, with minimal data collection efforts. The results of the qualitative screening would be used to establish a short-list of sites.

• Record URL:
  • http://data.tc.gc.ca/archive/eng/innovation/tdc-summary-14200-14288e-1386.htm
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport Canada

  Transportation Development Centre, 800 Rene-Levesque Boulevard West, Suite 600
  Montreal, Quebec  Canada  H3B 2X1

  IBI Group, Canada

  230 Richmond Street West
  Toronto, Ontario  Canada  M5V 1V6
• Authors:
  • Stewart, R
  • Brownlee, R
  • Stewart, D
• Publication Date: 2004-4

Language

• English
• French

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 266p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beacons; Crash avoidance systems; Flashing traffic signals; Grade crossing protection systems; Incident detection; Pedestrians; Railroad grade crossings; Safety; Train operations; Warning devices
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01000320
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TP 14288E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 18 2005 1:35PM