QR releases eight priority level crossing upgrades in North Queensland

QR today released details of eight priority level crossing upgrades for North Queensland that have been recommended by the QR Level Crossing Task Force.

Detailed planning for work at the eight sites will begin next week under a $10 million funding package. This work will involve liaison with key parties including the Main Roads Department, Queensland Transport and the respective local authorities.

The Task Force was formed by QR last month to consider level crossing safety risks in North Queensland following the tragic level crossing accident near Cardwell in late November in which two train drivers died. It includes safety and operational experts, train drivers and rail unions.

Transport Minister John Mickel welcomed the Task Force report on the eight priority sites in North Queensland, saying it gives current rail safety measures a real and immediate boost.

“The QR Task Force has undertaken more than 500 inspections of crossings in North Queensland over recent weeks as well as an intense round of consultation with key stakeholders such as road authorities, local councils, motoring groups and the heavy vehicle industry,” he said.

“While we have seen a long-term 30 per cent decline in level crossing accidents over the past decade, we need to collectively tackle the disturbing recent increase in level crossing incidents especially in North Queensland.

“More than 80 per cent of accidents have occurred between Mackay and Cairns in the last 18 months.

“Six deaths have occurred since June 2008 – five of them in North Queensland ­– compared to a yearly average of two deaths and no deaths in the whole of the 2007.”

Mr Mickel said the eight priority upgrades were:

1.Wainai Rd, Farleigh, near Mackay

2.Bruce Highway, Big Red, Bowen

3.Bruce Highway, Brandon

4.Bruce Highway, Rungoo near Cardwell

5.Bruce Highway, Conn, near Cardwell

6.Bruce Highway, Cardwell

7.Aerodrome Rd, Mundoo, near Innisfail

8.Garradunga Rd, Garradunga, north of Innisfail

The Task Force recommended that local committees should determine the type of additional safety protection provided at each of the identified crossings. These include such measures as boom gates; Active Advanced Warning; rumble strips; CCTV safety surveillance cameras; and sighting improvements.

QR Acting Chief Executive Officer Deborah O’Toole said QR had accepted the recommendations of the Task Force Report for the priority upgrades, which are in addition to an existing long-term $33 million program.

“The spate of recent accidents was a major concern for QR, especially for our train drivers and our passengers,” Mrs O’Toole said.

“QR saw an urgent need for additional funding and the Task Force took account not only of engineering assessments but the views of frontline people and local communities.

“This work dovetails with the existing long-term level crossing upgrade program based on a nationally-accepted assessment process and supported by local committees including QR, Queensland Transport, Main Roads and the relevant road authority.”

Mr Mickel said there was an overwhelming need for a collective approach on improving safety at rail level crossings - by rail, road and police authorities, by motorists and professional transport drivers and also local communities.

Mr Mickel said the work of the QR Taskforce in providing an overlay to level crossing safety assessments in North Queensland would now be extended to other parts of the state.

A pilot rollout of QR safety surveillance cameras will also continue during 2009 at selected crossings where multiple infringements and near misses have been reported, following a successful trial of the new camera technology in Brisbane in 2008.

QR is also lifting spending on existing driver awareness campaign to target road user behaviour at level crossings and is extending its community education program that last year reached 150,000 Queenslanders.

Mr Mickel said the government would give priority consideration to the Task Force recommendations for other statewide initiatives such as the lowering of the maximum speed limit at level crossings on major Queensland highways and the potential enforcement of traffic infringements with camera technology utilised to detect offences.

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