Level Crossing Risk Assessment

Dear Dr Hamer

Thank you for your e-mail of 25th March 2009, requesting details of the
risk assessment for Reigate level crossing.

I am handling your request under the terms of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 (FOIA 2000).

We aim to respond fully to your request no later than the 22nd April
2009.

If you have any queries regarding your request, please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Paul Wilkinson
Senior Executive
Customer Correspondence Team
Office of Rail Regulation
One Kemble Street
London WC2B 4AN

Telephone 0207 282 2018
Fax 0207 282 2043
e-mail [email address]
web: www.rail-reg.gov.uk

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Dear Dr Hamer

I write further to your request for information regarding Reigate level
crossing, Surrey.

You have requested:

a) Please provide me with a copy of the latest risk assessment for the
railway level crossing on at A217 London Road, Reigate.

b) What risk assessment score was given to the crossing ?

c) Please provide detail of how the risk assessment has informed the
type of barrier and timings settings of the barrier operation

d) Please provide a copy of the specifications linked to the risk
assessment outcomes

e) What are the timing setting requirements for level crossings in the
UK, and who decides these?

In response to a) and b) the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) does not
hold the risk assessment for Reigate level crossing, and I would suggest
you contact Network Rail for this information. Network Rail contact
details are in the following link -
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1346.a...

In relation to items c), d) and e) level crossing orders are made by the
Secretary of State for Transport under the Level Crossings Act 1983 and
specify the protective equipment (lights, barriers, signs, etc) to be
provided at a particular crossing. The Secretary of State considers the
railways proposals and in making the decision has to consider safety and
convenience of all users of the crossing. For the crossing at Reigate,
the nature of the road layout has determined a full barrier arrangement
operated by a local signalman/signalbox. A copy of the level crossing
order for Reigate is attached, paragraph 27 covers the timing sequence
for closing the crossing to road traffic at Reigate, in summary this is:

i) 3 seconds amber followed by
ii) 4 - 6 seconds flashing red followed by
iii) 6- 10 seconds for the left hand side barriers to lower followed by
iv) 6-10 seconds for the right hand side barriers to lower.

There are variations to the timing sequences for each particular type of
level crossing e.g. Automatic Half Barrier, Open Crossing etc and are
decided by the level crossing order. ORR's HM Railway Inspectorate
(HMRI) have published guidance on level crossings which includes the
suggested timing sequences for each level crossing type. This guidance,
Railways Safety Principals and Guidance Part 2E is available on the ORR
website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rs...

Should you have any further enquiries regarding your request please
contact me.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of this email, and should be
addressed to the Directors' Group of the Office of Rail regulation
(ORR). The Directors' Group can be contacted via Shamus Kenny at:

Office of Rail Regulation
One Kemble Street
London
WC2B 4AN
Fax 020-7282 2154
email [email address]

If you are not content with the outcome of the review or how we have
handled your request, you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner (IC) for a decision. Generally the IC cannot make a
decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by
ORR. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone 01625 545745
http://www.ico.gov.uk/

Yours sincerely

Paul Wilkinson
Senior Executive
Customer Correspondence Team
Office of Rail Regulation
One Kemble Street
London WC2B 4AN

Telephone 0207 282 2018
Fax 0207 282 2043
e-mail [email address]
web: www.rail-reg.gov.uk

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Dear Dr Hamer

Thank you for your further e-mail of 19th May 2009, n relation to your
earlier request for information concerning Reigate Level Crossing.

As explained in my earlier response, ORR does not hold the risk
assessment for Reigate Crossing. In general terms the timing of the
commencement of the barrier sequence prior to the arrival of a train
will depend on the position of signals and the speed of trains on the
approach to the crossing. Sufficient time must be given to clear signals
for through trains, or to ensure that, if there is a problem at the
crossing, approaching trains are brought to a controlled halt at the
protecting signal, through sequential signal aspects. The wait for road
users at manually controlled barriers will commonly be two and a half
minutes or more.

Raising the barriers after passage of the train(s), whether done
manually or automatically, should take place a few seconds after the
train(s) has/have cleared the crossing.

I trust that this and my earlier rely now answers your questions. Should
you have any further enquires regarding your request please contact me.

If you are dissatisfied with any way I have dealt with your request, you
have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests
should be submitted within two months of the date of this email, and
should be addressed to the Directors' Group of the ORR. The Directors'
Group can be contacted via Shamus Kenny at: Office of Rail
Regulation One Kemble Street London WC2B 4AN Fax 020-7282 2154 email
[email address] If you are not content with the outcome of
the review or how we have handled your request, you may apply directly
to the Information Commissioner (IC) for a decision. Generally the IC
cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by ORR. The Information Commissioner can be contacted
at: The Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House Water Lane,
Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Telephone 01625 545745 http://www.ico.gov.uk/

Further information on the functions of ORR and our publications can be
found in out publications guide available on our web site at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/n...

Yours sincerely

Paul Wilkinson
Senior Executive
Customer Correspondence Team
Office of Rail Regulation
One Kemble Street
London WC2B 4AN

Telephone 0207 282 2018
Fax 0207 282 2043
e-mail [email address]
web: www.rail-reg.gov.uk

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