Disability Access at Pedestrian Rail Crossing
Abstract
Late in 2001, two tragic pedestrian level crossing fatalities occurred within weeks of each other in Melbourne, Australia. Both fatalities involved wheelchair users who were unable to move their chairs off the railway tracks before the train reached the crossing.
The nature of these fatalities provoked many expressions of concern from disability groups and the wider community. The Victorian Government subsequently formed a taskforce and commissioned a research study to investigate the issues experienced by people with a disability at rail crossings.
This paper summarises the findings of the research study conducted by consultants Sinclair Knight Merz. It covers the following identifying key problems experienced by people with disabilities at rail crossings; reviewing international experience in providing safe passage for people with disabilities at rail crossings; identifying solutions and actions to improve disability access and safety.
In identifying a program of actions to improve rail crossing safety, this study’s goal was:To identify rail crossing solutions that will help pedestrians of all levels of ability cross rail tracks safely, confidently and comfortably.