Yes, I did learn something - why crossings are closed even when a train is stopping at a station - thanks.

A very well explained and narrated video. Being a 50 plus railway 'geek, who's fascinated by level crossings, if I know that a train is coming, I'll stand, wait and watch until the train has gone past, then go across... I'd never dream of trying to dodge the barriers as they are coming down.

Very interesting. I live in the US and am a retired light rail driver. Love seeing the differences between our light rail, freight trains and all kind of trams, subways, commuter trains and freight trains in other countries. Great video, loved to see the train signal aspects, somewhat similar to what I dealt with.

In America, the amount of time you have from when the lights start flashing and barrier fully descends, to when the train arrives is around 20-30 seconds.

I live in a Maison de Garde Barriere, in France. These manned (but more usually 'wommaned') crossing houses were put in place at even the smallest farm crossing, let alone at a road - and in the days before cars were even invented. The keeper's salary was tiny, but with half a hect of land for fruit, veg, animals and whatever else they fancied doing, life was gentle, peaceful, and - often with only six trains a day to cope with - very sought after. Dad worked on the nearest farm, mother controlled the crossing, and all the kids dug the garden - a nice role-model for today's over-commercial living, perhaps? A bientot!

We lived in a rural part of Australia where there was only one train a day. One night we went down to the tracks near a level crossing. If you put a jumper lead joining the two rails together it would activate the boom gates and lights. Not going to admit to the mischief we got up to!

As a former driver and signalman, that's a good guide for laymen.

I would just to correct you on a couple of points. 1. Trains don't need 'several miles' to stop safely but they do need several hundreds of yards in order to do so. I would fully expect a train under normal rail conditions to be able to come to a stand in less than 2 miles, even from 125 miles per hour. 2. Signallers do not always lower level crossing barriers for stopping trains. If you go to Reigate level crossing in Surrey for example, the barriers are never lowered for electric trains to approach. There is a very good reason for this as the line is not electrified beyond the level crossing and therefore all electric trains must stop and terminate their journeys at the station. The protecting signal needs to be minimum of 25 yards from the edge of the level crossing to allow the signaller to do this. For signalling purposes a level crossing is not treated as an obstruction. At stations where this distance is not achieved or at stations where there is no signal between the platform at the level crossing, then of course what you say in the video is correct. One thing that I'm a little surprised that you didn't mention is the length of time that elapses at an automatic half barrier crossing from the time it takes from the amber light illuminated to the time that the barriers become fully raised after a train has passed over the level crossing could be as short as 37 seconds, and the time that it takes between the barriers fully lowering and a train arriving at a level crossing can be as short as 10 seconds. It is therefore vital that if you are driving a vehicle that breaks down on a level crossing is that all the vehicle occupants are removed as quickly as possible from the vehicle to a position well clear of the running lines, before phoning the signaller from the phone at the crossing. A drivers primary concern is to save life first. Certainly don't waste vital seconds in trying to push a vehicle clear.

The ones near me are CCTV-controlled. It is wired so that when the train passes a signal approximately 2 minutes away, the sensor which changes the signal to red notifies a controller in an office, who waits for the crossing to be clear then pushes a button to close it.

In NA the barriers descend whenever the train is about a kilometre away. Mind you, NA train horns can wake the dead, and the bells at the crossings are loud, no silly squeeky noises.

In Belgium I do not know of any other crossings than automatic ones. The attended ones date from maybe 40 years ago or so. And signals are placed at 1 mile intervals, and have only one signal announcing the next light is on red, except on lines where 100 miles per hour is permitted. This means that up to 90 miles per hour a train is supposed to be able stop in less than one mile.

You need to check the crossing at East Preston in Sussex, which is on a busy bus route as well, the barriers come down a good 5 minutes before a train arrives. One day I timed it at 7 minutes. That's the equivalent of one helluva stopping distance !!! These are only commuter trains doing at best 60 mph.

1:08 MAYDAY IM GOIN DOWN!

I was stationed in Southern Italy in the 80's and there was a crossing close to the base. A guy lived in the house next to the crossing and would go out at a certain time and lower the gates. Then go back into his house until the train passed then go and raise the gates. Some times it might be a long time for the train to pass.

Awesome video. Very well narrated, presented and explained. I have learned a few more things I don't already know which is cool. I also subscribed, your videos are great :)

good video, as a crossing keeper alot of what of what youve said is pretty much right

Great video. Well done. One thing always intrigues me is the “phone signalman before crossing” - when the phone & layby are on the opposite side of the crossing meaning you would have to cross it in order to make the phone call asking to cross!

Thank you for another great video. I learned a lot. However, when I was a little boy in New Zealand we had two crossings on the way to our beach house. My father always made a point of slowing down to almost a stop and checking that both ways were clear. Visibility was bad at these crossings and most people did the same. They were on the main road and are now crossed by bridges. I learned from my dad and have never had a problem.

Years ago when I had an old minibus the spare wheel was carried under the vehicle in a carrier. It fell off going over a level crossing because the whole thing was rusty. I didn't stop until I was clear of the line but I was able to retrieve it before a train came. Some level crossings are far from "level".

Thank you very useful info. I must admit I wouldn't want to be hit by a train travelling at 70+mph as some trains cross in this part of N. Wales.

Great explanation, especially the graphics explaining the various signals and the animation showing them in operation. I now fully understand. Thanks!

1:45 that train is a 377! 1:58 that's a 375 (377s are usually green or blue!) 3:05 that's a 172! 3:49 that car almost sounds like a passing train! 3:57 that's a 377 with a 375! 4:50 another 172! 5:30 that's a 375, the next shot has a 171! Nice video! I like British trains a lot, even though I'm an American! I've wondered about the time between barriers closed, and train actually approaching, for what I've seen in other videos! Thank you for answering that question in a nice video!

Here in the Netherlands the times are shorter. Where trains drive higher speeds all the time, it often crosses the crossing just 7 seconds after the barriers are down! Also the barriers are not lowered when the crossing is after red signal just for safety. Exceptions are made when there are leaves on the rails.

I used to work in a paper mill in Snodland. There was a level crossing next to mll entrance. If it went down when a shift change was due. It made workers late.

From looking at this, my local town centre has a Controlled Level Crossing, but the barriers come down a full 3 to 4 minutes before the train passes through, at walking speed as the station is immediately next to the barriers. It causes endless frustration and jams every time a train is due (half-hourly service at best). The delay is way too long but fortunately most people don't try to jump the barriers coming down.

Wow a great video you've got really good even in East Sussex which has a lot of level crossings I've seen a video which is my favourite you tuber is Nathan RA F he done my favourite level crossings are Enfield lock and Brimsdown And he did East Sussex as well Good Video DAD RAIL even the level crossings

4:40 Funnily enough some train drivers in the past, especially in dense traffic areas, got into the habit of chasing aspects. They often got involved in SPADs (Signals Passed At Danger) and changed their ways as a result!

In Switzerland at numerous places you have to wait for two trains to pass while the barriers are down. I found out that as a pedestrian you better use the underpass (if provided) in this case and be well ahead until the barriers open again.

Very interesting and informative video, thanks.

As a signalman, I think he explained how level crossing work, very well, he was right, to keep a train at line speed, the driver needs green signals, which means on a line with speeds over 100 Mph, barriers need to be down at about 3 minutes

Greetings from Illinois, USA. I know where all of those crossings are. They're all in the UK. (HA HA) But seriously, the double crossing gates are a lot safer then the ones we have here. No one can go around. As for the people who die at crossings trying to beat the train, (Translation; This means to cross before the train comes) it's natures way of getting rid of the stupid people. I like watching the "cab view" on your Railroad Videos. You have a beautiful country.

Barriers coming down early isn’t really an issue for me but I get a bit peaved when they take an additional 3-5 minutes to go back up after the train has passed. Many times I have thought “Oh must be another one coming only for the barriers to go up a minute or so afterwards with no other activity on the line.

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this interest, awesome video!

In a nearby town, there was a (locally) manual controlled crossing after the station. When the train stopped, they lowered the barriers in the time the passengers leaved and entered the train. When they changed it to remote control from a location 15Km away, they did close the barriers when the train was just entering the station. Now, the crossing is removed and the platforms are extended. In my town same problem, but after removing 3 from the 5 tracks, it was replaced by an automatic crossing.

It all depends if the line is quiet or busy. For example the East Coast main line from London King's Cross has many level crossings with big fast Virgin electric expresses going at up .to 130mph will mean that the barriers have to be lowered a few miles before the train comes.

I often wait 3-4 minutes between the barrier closing and the train arriving,timed by listening to complete songs on the radio:-) . The longest I waited with the gates down was 20 minutes,for 3 trains. In SW London.

2:09: This type of crossing is the most dangerous.

Automatic half-barrier crossings could be installed everywhere if people actually obeyed them all the time.

Great video, respect from kolkata, India

At line speed, the timing for the fastest train to travel from the treadle to the AHB crossing is 37 seconds. This was changed from the original 24 seconds following the Hixon level crossing disaster on the 6th January 1968 when a 100mph Manchester to Euston express hit a grounded low-loader with a 120 ton transformer on board.

Better question, who's stupid enough to play chicken between a 1 ton vehicle compared to a 500ton train ??

I think of the double yellow as meaning "slow to 2/3 of maximum line speed" and the single yellow as "slow to 1/3 of maximum line speed, and expect the next signal to be red".

At most crossings here in America that aren't next to stations, the wait between the signals activating and the train entering the crossing is usually between 20 to 35 seconds.

1:20 HAIR LOL

Very informative with clears information,thank you.

We live in a rural area in the US. Last night my husband drove around the barriers as they were going down. I think his thinking was that our car is new and well maintained, the crossing is new and smooth, therefore the odds are that we would not have stalled on the tracks. He says we are guaranteed 20 t0 30 seconds to get around the gates if we drive around them before they are full down, and if there is not a lot of traffic, there is very little risk. That crossing is in a rural area, it was extremely dark there, there are buildings and brush that obscures view of the tracks in each direction, and even if he will not admit it, he has age related hearing loss. I think it is too risky. I would NEVER drive around barriers as they are going down. What would you say?

Very interesting and informative

5:30 There is also the chance that the train might not stop at that station anyway e.g. freight or ECS trains.

Level crossing barriers go down so soon because trains weigh several hundred tonnes and it takes several minutes for them to stop safely, especially if the train driver has to brake suddenly.

I enjoy railroad crossings coming down so I see the locomotive types and I am retired and can relax.

Another type of level crossing is on Coldblow, just south of Walmer station near Deal in Kent. It has gates for motorists, but you must open them yourself (and close afterwards) when the light is green. Coming from the USA I found this most remarkable!

Paul Brett sent me this KZfaq film- as we live in the vacinity of Hampden Park train station! Gates down 47 mins per hour.. thank you- this film tells me why ! Think we are in need of a bridge !

Stop 5 metres before the barrier to allow a safety buffer in case a car behind you doesn't stop in time

If you’re a sad old buffer like me you love sitting and watching the train 🚂 go by anyway so it’s a privilege more than an inconvenience.

At my local crossing the control room is used more for its toilet than for the crossing.

It not "soon before the train arrives" but "early before the train arrives". The way you say it gives the impression that the wait is quite short.

This is a really good video.

1:45 is Sluice Lane crossing in East Sussex I believe

I love it when the barriers go down. Number 2 is near Pevensey

Very useful video. Just subscribed to your channel. Stay safe.

The only crossing in Wolverhampton which is located on the Walsall route about a mile out of Wolverhampton itself is CCTV controlled. Has been since I can remember and I’m 33 this year.

That explains why we’re held up at Valley so often!

Excellent video.

because some trains move faster than others a train going 100mph will get to the crossing quicker than one going 50mph so sometimes you wait longer and they activate when train passes a sensor on track or a certain location

Why? .. because we make sure accidents between trains and cars/lorries are kept to a minimum here.....unlike in America, where level crossing gates close far too late (with not alot of warning). But many Americans have little 'rail awareness' anyway. They don't respect the railways, or have it drummed into them from an early age that railways can be dangerous and therefore a degree of caution must be exercised when crossing them.

They are all in the southeast on the class 375 southeastern trains. One was in Canterbury and one in chartham

One of the AHBs was at Winchelsea.

Great video! I did lean things I didn’t know before! I also subscribed to you!

very nice

In North America we only have automatic crossings: lights and gates, or just lights . Those third are idiotic from our point of view.

All of them are in Kent and are all by southeastern /southern

Great video.☺️

The worst bit of railway level crossings are in West Sussex, they take an age to open up again, the one at West Worthing in particular is terrible for that,also the town centre one in Chichester blocks the whole town up for ages! Anyone else agree?

Was that controlled crossing at lydney station? Lydney railway station level crossing stops traffic about ten minutes before any train arrives, which is a stupid idea, considering the fact that it is the only way to get to the station platform

First one looked like etchingham level crossing.

Crossings are cool to see

1:10 Cooden Beach? 3:07 Pevensey Bay? 3:15 Kent and East Sussex Railway?

Btw it isn't 15-30 seconds, the law requires a MINIMUM time of 27 seconds

Boston has two level crossings in close proximity to one another, one on an extremely busy stretch of road. There is also a goods sidings nearby which trains have to set back into. This necessitates both sets of barriers at the crossings being lowered for quite some time (up to 15 minutes in the case of one of them) while this takes place. The amount of times I have hindered emergency services vehicles at these crossings is unreal. Setting back at 3 mph into a yard whilst an ambulance is sat there waiting to clear the crossing is not a nice thing.

One question I have, why do the sirens stay on all the way through when it’s a half barrier crossing but only stay on until all 4 barriers are down on the full barrier one?

Very good video. Thank you

Second One, Cooden Beach. Fourth One, Battle Road. One after 4. Pevensey Bay (which is an automatic Obstacle detection crossing (MCB-OD)) Bodiam, Robertsbridge Station, Whinchelsea

These level crossings are in the South east coast near Brighton.

In the US it's really short, about 20-25 seconds usually.

in the dutch before the crossing they make sure how fast the train is going and much other things thats why you dont have too wait so long in the dutch

Excellent video !

Hi there if you can please make a video on how tic tac crossings work, keep up the great videos.

It took me a good few seconds at 5:00 to realise what signal overplaps were. Then I realised

North American level crossings are more efficient, less stopping time all the times. Still idiots get hit.

Southern trainspotting, all correct except for battle road. The crossing is at battle but it is not battle road, any guesses on the user worked foot crossing ?

The first time you said dad rail I thought you said DAB rail !!! Lol

Think that half barrier crossing is near Cooden Beach and the picture of Brighton train is on Mashlink line at about Three Oaks. Think Polegate and Pevensey and Westham crossings also featured.

I’ll always be able to recognise the crossing at 4:49. It’s Winchelsea.

Never mind that, how come Traffic Lights always change to RED when I Approach ?

In the US, the trains sound their whistles or horns when approaching a crossing. They do two long whistles, one short, then one more long in the approach. It seems that in the UK, they rarely sound the horns at crossings...

i was in Ireland, holy shit, the gates go down at least 2 minutes before a train arrives, the crossing was right near a station too and when a train stopped at the station from one direction the gates would stay down when it was at the station until it left

I believe ALL crossings here are user controlled or auto. Not all have arms but most on tared roads have at least lights. I don't think we have any "controlled" crossings here so was wondering what the belly aching about time was. Now I see with your signalling etc and it makes sense. We also don't have crossing obstructed guards against the trains that I'm aware of at least.

The car that comes at 1:17 look at the front... there is a person starring at the camera creepily...

The problem is the people who really need to learn what this video teaches us will never watch this video, so misuse of level crossings will continue.

Very, very good.