Owing to the advent of five high speed rail corridors in US, the problem of safety at grade crossings must receive urgent attention. Some will be closed and some converted into over or underpasses, but the majority will need effective method of preventing vehicles from intruding into path of oncoming train. In 1994, 615 people were killed and 1961 injured in 4979 road-rail collisions, 50% where there were active warning devices. Work proceeds on the development of a barrier. Vehicles considered range from 820 kg cars to 36,360 kg articulated vehicles. Impact speed selected is 100 kph for cars and 70 kph for heavy vehicles. Vehicle Arresting Barriers must be able to absorb 111 kN with a runout of 30m. It was feared that a net with a bottom strandlow enough to engage the lower surface of car bumper would be easily dragged beneath the wheels of a large truck, but tests on a truck were fully satisfactory. Prototype tests on cars and lorries have been satisfactory, and operational test are planned at three selected rail-road crossings.
Abstract