The level crossing is longer than necessary. Shortening it would reduce the amount of time that a vehicle spends within the crossing and improve the visual information available to motorists when assessing their ability to clear the crossing.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken/proposed by Wyndham City Council and Metro Trains Melbourne will addresse this safety issue.
The ATSB recommends that Metro Trains takes further action in consultation with Wyndham City Council in relation to the shortening of the Cherry Street level crossing.
A meeting was held on 9th January 2014 between VicTrack, Metro Trains Melbourne, VicRoads and Wyndham City officers to investigate and discuss actions and staging of treatment to enhance the safety of the Cherry Street crossing. From the meeting, the following actions occurred:
VicTrack has confirmed that a funding sum will be provided for these works. The specific details of the scope of works and design is to be prepared between the agencies.
The ATSB has reviewed Wyndham City Council and considers that further action is required to adequately address the safety issue.
The ATSB recommends that Wyndham City Council takes further action in consultation with Metro Trains in relation to the shortening of the Cherry Street level crossing.
Dot point 4 of the previous section (1.3 Refuge Area), highlights a benefit of the longer distance between the boom barrier and the distance to the rail being 10 metres: that this area or length could be used as a refuge area if a south bound vehicle is trapped across a track. It is suggested that this benefit has a real and higher value than moving the north bound stop line (and associated boom barrier, etc.) closer to the track. It is not clear that there is a tangible benefit to reduce the distance to the rail.
Wyndham City considers that improved co-ordination and linking of all traffic signals, as well as the installation of additional signals (refer to 2. Recent Actions), provide better actions and results than relocating the barrier equipment on the south side of the crossing. Further, Wyndham City officers consider the benefit of a possible refuge area negates the action to reduce the crossing width for north bound vehicles.
Signage will need to be created and installed to highlight the refuge aspect in the case of an emergency. This will need to be discussed with the railway agencies. It is believed while there are some merits to reduce the level crossing width for the Cherry Street crossing and a business case has been put up to VicTrack to gain funding to reduce the width of the level crossing, however, this work should be considered to be a lower priority than the works indicated above.
A meeting was held on 9th January 2014 between VicTrack, Metro Trains Melbourne, VicRoads and Wyndham City officers to investigate and discuss actions and staging of treatment to enhance the safety of the Cherry Street crossing.
From the meeting, the following actions occurred:
VicRoads is to further enhance the co-ordination of the red meter light at Railway Avenue. A business case was submitted by VicTrack to Public Transport Victoria for funding to:
VicTrack has confirmed that a funding sum will be provided for these works. The specific details of the scope of works and design is to be prepared between the agencies.
