How do the barriers at the level crossings work?
Simply explained
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18 July 2018
There are 122 level crossings in use in Luxembourg and we mainly distinguish between two systems for closing / opening the barriers.
- Automatically controlled barriers
- Signal-dependent barriers
66% of the barriers are automatically controlled.
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- The automatically controlled barriers detect the train through a magnetic induction loop.
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- The first induction loop is located before the level crossing and detects the train. The location of the loops is calculated according to the maximum permitted speed. In general, the induction loops are located approximately 1,000 meters before the level crossing. When a train is detected by the loop, the barriers close automatically.
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- A second loop is installed after the level crossing and opens the barriers as the train passes through these detectors.
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- This automatic system optimizes the closing and opening of the barriers, as the distance between the detectors is calculated to match the maximum speed of the trains on that section.
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- For closing, 4 automatically controlled half-barriers generally need 39 seconds and 2 half-barriers 29 seconds. If the time of passing the train and opening the barriers is added, it takes at least a minute to reopen the railroad crossing for the traffic and for pedestrians.
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- The signal dependent system is used when the level crossing is near a stop or a station, as the distance is not large enough to place the induction loops behind the signal, allowing access to that line segment.
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- The train can only leave when the signal is green. This signal only switches to green when the barriers are completely closed.
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- To open the barriers, as with the automatic system, the train is detected at a certain location thanks to the induction loop after the level crossing. It follows that the closing time of these barriers is significantly higher than with automatically controlled barriers.
