Lc Gates

Level Crossings

Level Xings • What and Why • Classification • Requirements

What and Why • When road traffic crosses the rail traffic at the same level, they are known as level crossings. • At level crossings, the road is brought upto the level of rail table and guard rails are provided to ensure clearance for wheel flanges. • LCs become necessary because the alternative of over/under bridges is very expensive

What and Why • A level crossing (also written xing) will have an arrangement to stop road traffic on either side of the xing (except at D class xings). • This arrangement can be swing gates, lifting barriers or even a chain across the road. • It will have check rails to keep the flange-way clear. • Provision of Warning signs are mandatory on either side of the LC for warning road users

Classes of level crossings • • • • •

Special class A class B class C class D class (Cattle crossing)

Norms for deciding Class of a LC • Classification is done considering class of road, visibility and volume of road and rail traffic • Number of trains per 24 hrs. multiplied by number of road vehicles per 24 hrs. gives the “Train Vehicle Units” or TVUs for the LC. • If TVUs are more than 10,000 manning should be done. • Min TVUs should be 1 lakh to become eligible for ROB/RUB on cost sharing basis.

Requirements - Special class • • • •

Must be interlocked. Provision of lifting barriers is necessary. Gates are normally open to road traffic. Warning bell to warn road users if outside station limits. • Provision of telephone with nearest ASM is necessary.

Requirements - A class • • • •

Must be interlocked. Provision of lifting barriers is necessary. Gates normally open to road traffic. Warning to road users in suburban sections and automatic section. Desirable for other sections • Provision of telephone necessary for gates within station limits, on Rajdhani routes & suburban sections. Also at LCs located on curves with poor visibility. (1998 orders - all manned gates to have telephones).

Requirements - B class • Interlocking: suburban, Gates operated from cabin in non-suburban • Provision of lifting barriers necessary • Gates normally closed to road traffic. (Exception: interlocked LCs, LCs having low road traffic and closing of gates before taking off signals is laid down). • Provision of telephone necessary for gates within station limits, on Rajdhani routes & suburban sections. Also at LCs located on curves with poor visibility. (1998 orders - all manned gates to have telephones).

Requirements - C class • Interlocking: Gates within stn limits if oprated from cabin may be interlocked. • Gates normally closed to road traffic. • Provision of telephone necessary for gates within station limits,.

Railway - wise LCs on IR S.No.

Manned Gates

Unmanned Gates

Total Gates

CR ER NR NE NF SR SC SE WR Total

1793 1266 3160 1518 657 2190 1499 1030 3004 16117

1681 1024 4421 3264 1699 2566 2055 3716 4128 24554

3474 2290 7581 4782 2356 4756 3554 4746 7132 40671

Source: Railway Board Statistics, January, 1998

Gate Signals SEM 7.43 A Gate Stop Signal shall be fixed at an adequate distance from the gate, this adequate distance not being less than the value stipulated in para 7.45.1 and 7.45.2 SEM 7.44 The Gate Stop Signal shall be provided with ‘G’ marker except where prohibited under special instrcutions. The ‘G’ marker shall consist of letter ‘G; in black on yellow circular disc. The instructions in para 7.168.2 shall apply to signals protecting level crossing gates in automatic block territory.

Interlocked Gates outside Stn Limits SEM 7.45.1 On sections provided with two aspect lower quadrant signalling, a Stop Signal at 400 metres from the gate shall be provided. Where the section is otherwise provided with separate Warner signals, such a signal shall be provided at a distance of not less than 1.2 km from the Gate Stop Signal. SEM 7.45.2 On sections provided with multiple aspect/modified lower quadrant signalling, a Stop Signal at 180 metres from the gate and a Distant signal at 1 km in rear of the Stop Signal may be provided.

Interlocked Gates within Stn Limits SEM 7.46.1 On sections provided with two aspect lower quadrant signalling, (a) The Outer Signal shall be located at a minimum distance of 400 metres from the gate; (b) Where the Outer Signal cannot be so located and the Outer Signal falls in between Home Signal and Gate, a separate Gate Signal may be located at a distance of 400 metres in rear of the gate; (c) Where there is adequate visibility of Outer Signal as prescribed in para 7.7.1, the Gate Signal shall work independent of the Outer Signal; (d) Where the visibility of Outer Signal is not adequate, the Outer Signal shall be shifted and combined with the Gate Signal where feasible or interslotting arrangement shall be provided between the Outer Signal and the Gate Signal. SEM 7.46.2 On sections provided with Multiple aspect//modified Lower Quadrant signalling, when the interlocked gates are situated between Distant and Home signal(a) The Gate Signal shall be located at 180 metres in rear of the gate; (b) The Distant Signal shall be located at not less than 1 km in rear of the Gate Signal and will function as Gate Distant as well.

Comparison Item Normal position of gate

Spl class

Class A

Open to road traffic

Class B

Class C

Closed to road traffic. Can be kept open if i. It is not in suburban section ii. It is not in automatic / APB section

iv. Has telephone with nearest station v. Visibility is good Interlocking with signals when within stn limits

Should be interlocked with station signals

Should be interlocked with station signals in suburban sections, in non-suburban sections if operated from cabin and in automatic sections

Should be interlocked with station signals if within stn limits where operated from cabin and in automatic sections

Comparison Item Interlocking with signals when outside stn limits Telephone communication within stn limits

Telephone communication outside stn limits Warning bell operated by approaching train

Spl class

Class A

Should be interlocked with gate signals

Class B

Class C

Should be interlocked Should be interlocked in suburban sections & in automatic sections in automatic sections Telephone with ASM office at manned gates

Telephone with ASM office

Telephone with ASM office

Telephone with ASM office of adjoining stn

Telephone with adjoining stnc for Rajdhani routes, on suburban section & on curves obstructing the view of the LC from approaching train and vice versa.

For LCs outside stn limits

For LCs o/s stn limits in automatic / APB & in suburban sections

G

A

G

Gate Stop Signal Gate Stop Signal in Automatic Block Territory (Letter A shall be lit only when gates are closed and locked against road traffic)

Refer GR 3.17

A

AG

Gate Stop Signal in semi-automatic territory (Letter A shall be lit only when gates are closed and locked & points are correctly set and locked. Letter AG shall be lit when points are correctly set and locked but gate is open or defective.)