Executive summary
On Tuesday 28 October 2003 at about 1940, Train 2153, a Tranz Metro Waitakere to Auckland diesel multiple unit passenger service collided with a truck at St Georges Road level crossing at Avondale.
The truck driver suffered minor injuries. The crew and passengers on the train were not injured.
The truck was substantially damaged. The train, with only minor damage, was able to complete its journey after the collision.
Safety issues identified included:
· the approval of a right-of-way to join St Georges Road between the level crossing warning devices and the railway line
· the adequacy of the design, layout, signage and warning devices of existing level crossings to meet existing and projected levels of road and rail traffic volumes.
Several safety recommendations covering these issues have been made to the relevant parties.
Related Recommendations
Ensure that Council’s planning and consent procedures for future applications involving side roads and exits from private rights-of-way joining public roads in the immediate vicinity of railway level crossings include a requirement for the provision of adequate protection.
Ensure that Council’s planning and consent procedures for future applications involving side roads and exits from private rights-of-way joining public roads in the immediate vicinity of railway level crossings include a requirement for the provision of adequate protection.
Ensure that Council’s planning and consent procedures for future applications involving side roads and exits from private rights-of-way joining public roads in the immediate vicinity of railway level crossings include a requirement for the provision of adequate protection
Participate with the Land Transport Safety Authority, Toll NZ, Auckland and Waitakere City Councils in a review of all existing railway level crossings within the Auckland metropolitan area, to ensure that their design, layout, signage and warning devices are adequate for current road and rail traffic volumes and will be adequate to meet projected increases in rail traffic on the Auckland rail corridors.
Participate with the Land Transport Safety Authority, Toll NZ, Papakura District Council and Auckland City Council in a review of all existing railway level crossings within the Auckland metropolitan area, to ensure that their design, layout, signage and warning devices are adequate for current road and rail traffic volumes and will be adequate to meet projected increases in rail traffic on the Auckland rail corridors.
Participate with the Land Transport Safety Authority, Toll NZ, Papakura District Council and Waitakere City Council in a review of all existing railway level crossings within the Auckland metropolitan area, to ensure that their design, layout, signage and warning devices are adequate for current road and rail traffic volumes and will be adequate to meet projected increases in rail traffic on the Auckland rail corridors.
Participate with the Land Transport Safety Authority, Papakura District Council, Auckland and Waitakere City Councils in a review of all existing railway level crossings within the Auckland metropolitan area, to ensure that their design, layout, signage and warning devices are adequate for current road and rail traffic volumes and will be adequate to meet projected increases in rail traffic on the Auckland rail corridors.
Undertake, in conjunction with Toll NZ, Papakura District Council, Auckland and Waitakere City Councils, a review of all existing railway level crossings within the Auckland metropolitan area, to ensure that their design, layout, signage and warning devices are adequate for current road and rail traffic volumes and will be adequate to meet projected increases in rail traffic on the Auckland rail corridors.