QLD Government invests $12.5m to upgrade level crossings

The Queensland Government is investing millions of dollars to upgrade key regional level crossings across the state, which includes the installation of additional safety protection mechanisms.

Queensland Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe announced the funding following the tabling of the final report into an incident involving a bus and the Kuranda Scenic Railway train at a Cairns level crossing last June.

“I am thankful this incident was not more serious, however it reinforces the importance of promoting the safe use of our roads and rail network – particularly at open level crossings,” Mr. Hinchliffe said in a statement.

“While the Rail Regulator report found the Draper Street level crossing operated as designed and the train was driven appropriately, there is no doubt lessons can be learnt from the incident.

“The report identified some recommendations for both Cairns Regional Council and Queensland Rail to implement, which included maintaining regular contact and investigating the possibility of synchronising traffic and level crossing signals.

“Since the incident last year improvements have been made to the road markings at the crossing to help improve understanding of the need to stop for trains at the crossing.

“I am pleased that Queensland Rail and Cairns Regional Council are holding discussions about further possible enhancements to the Draper Street level crossing.”

Mr. Hinchliffe said work was already underway on a $1.5 million upgrade to the existing safety protection at the nearby Kate Street level crossing in Portsmith.

“This $12.5 million in funding will ensure key level crossings across the state will be upgraded from passive to active protection by June 2017, with more mechanisms installed like flashing lights and boom gates.

The final report made a number of recommendations on Cairns Regional Council as the road manager and Queensland Rail as the rail infrastructure manager.

These recommendations talked about the two organisations working together to look at better coordination of the rail signals and the traffic lights, and whether there were any other safety measures that could reduce the risk of collision at this crossing.