The Finnish Transport Agency's
Level Crossing Strategy
Finnish Transport Agency (FTA)/ Jarmo Koistinen
6.6.2016
Level crossings in Finland
Railway statistics
Length of the
Finnish railway
network
2,463
44
5,900
kilometres,
level crossings and
tunnels on the
main lines
Annual rail freight
volume
of which
Number of
annual train
journeys
90 %
76
on single track
million
33
million tonnes
.
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Road, maritime and railway safety
Road traffic We fulfil Finland’s vision for road safety, according to which the transport system must be planned to prevent road traffic fatali+es and injuries. Railway traffic Vessel traffic We promote the compe++veness and economic vitality of foreign trade and domes+c waterborne transport according to Finland's mari+me strategy. 15.6.16
The Finnish Transport Agency is responsible for railway network safety, in compliance with various EU and na+onal-­‐level regula+ons. We ensure railway traffic and infrastructure management safety. Finnish Transport Agency
4
TOTAL 2,463 (548; 21; 32; 1,862)
2,463 = Total number of level
crossings on main railway lines
548 = Level crossings with barriers
21 = Equipped with lights and bells
32 = Equipped with lights
1,862 = Without active warning
devices
Black line = No level crossings
within 10 km
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The challenge of reducing the number of
level crossings
The
population of
Finland is
5.5 million
and 60% live
in this area
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Level crossing strategy
1. Maintenance
Objective Action plan To reach the national objectives
for level crossings set in the
regulation Railway Infrastructure
Subsystem by 2030.
We will draw up a long-term action
plan on eliminating and improving
level crossings. 15.6.16
Finnish Transport Agency
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2. Planning
Objective Action plan To fully implement the Railway
Act and the procedures under
the Act, when eliminating level
crossings.
Plans to eliminate level crossings
primarily follow private road construction
proceedings. Railway plans in accordance
with the Railway Act have not been
implemented in the eliminations of level
crossings, although this would be
preferable. The Finnish Transport Agency
should fully implement the Railway Act
and the procedures under this Act, also in
the eliminations of level crossings. To take level crossing
improvements and eliminations
into account when planning
railway projects.
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3. Collaboration
Objective To organize the division of work to
achieve level crossing safety in an
efficient and appropriate way, and
to clarify the collaboration between
the different parties.
To draw up guidelines for
collaboration with the regional
centres for transport and
infrastructure, and define a
common target state in matters
concerning level crossings. Action plan
A group across administrative
boundaries will be established. The
group will meet on a regular basis and
its tasks will include annual operation
and financial planning of level crossing
safety issues, as well as regular
monitoring and reporting.
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4. Technology
Objective To implement different solutions to improve
level crossing safety awareness for example
by promoting mobile solutions (smart
phones, navigators, level crossing warning
systems)
Action plan We will continue to develop and
accelerate a more widespread adoption
of cost-effective warning lights and half
barrier devices powered by alternative
forms of energy.
To implement new, innovative and costeffective solutions to improve the warning
devices.
We will organise effective recycling of
level crossing equipment according to
the priority list.
To organise a system for recycling level
crossing equipment.
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5. Information technology
Objective Action plan To draw up a development
program for the safety assessment
tools and registers related to level
crossings. The program would
also include development of safety
analysis tools, for example,
regarding railway safety and
fatalities. Railway safety risks and costs
incurred by accidents will be
included in the Safety Evaluation
system.
The public level crossing register
will be developed into a
continuously updated geographic
information system. This also
supports traffic planning at the
regional level.
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6. Communications
Objective Action plan To improve level crossing safety on
private roads by means of campaigns
and by developing the guidelines.
To develop the communication of level
crossing safety.
Level crossing safety will be improved
by launching regular traffic safety
campaigns in cooperation with other
parties promoting traffic safety.
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Thank you!
The Finnish Transport Agency's Level Crossing Strategy
Jarmo Koistinen