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Level crossing risk not managed
Date issue released
Issue number
RO-2021-005-SI-03
Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Transport Function
Network Operations
Issue Owner
Queensland Rail
Mode of Transport
Rail
Safety Issue Description

Although Queensland Rail’s internal standard required safety assessments of each public level crossing at least every 5 years, there had been no review or assessment of the Kianawah Road and other level crossings since 2001–2002.

Issue Status Justification

The ATSB is satisfied that the assessment (Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model) of the Kianawah Road level crossing, undertaken by Queensland Rail addresses this safety issue.  In addition, the ATSB is satisfied that Queensland Rail, through a program, is actively seeking to address safety risk at level crossings in accordance with its level crossing safety standard.

Proactive action
Action number
RO-2021-005-PSA-109
Organisation
Queensland Rail
Action Status
Closed
Action description

On 17 August 2023, Queensland Rail advised the ATSB that they had conducted a site inspection and audit of the Kianawah Road level crossing on 21 March 2021, and an Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM) assessment rating was conducted on 1 October 2021. Additional detail on how Queensland Rail is planning to undertake ALCAM assessments of level crossings is detailed below:

  • South east Queensland is developing a program to assess all public road and pedestrian crossings to the latest ALCAM and update the level crossing management database over the next 5 years.
  • Within the regional business, a trial of drone technology was undertaken to determine if drones could be used to take measurements for ALCAM assessments to reduce risk and expediate the process. The trial concluded that existing technology did not support the ability to undertake ALCAMs using drone technology. However, Queensland Rail will continue to monitor developments in this area for future potential.
  • At the same time as the drone trial was being undertaken, Queensland Rail reviewed existing data to identify high-risk regional crossings and commissioned a contractor to complete 95 ALCAM assessments. This work is approximately 65% complete with all high-risk assessments scheduled to be completed by the ‘end of August 2023’.
  • Queensland Rail is currently undertaking a procurement process to engage a contractor to update outstanding regional ALCAM assessment data by completing approximately 400 ALCAMs per year over the next 5 years.
  • Queensland Rail’s regional business holds ALCAM data for all level crossings, comprising 1,562 public and 863 private crossings. Of these crossings, 72 public and 17 private crossings have been completed using the current ALCAM methodology, with 71 of these assessments being completed since May 2023.