Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail has said that all of the Netherlands’ unguarded level crossings will be eliminated “within a few years.”
The vast majority of the remaining 123 unguarded intersections are located in the north-east of the Netherlands, where infrequent services previously ran through. However, this is no longer the case as traffic – and the speed of the trains – has increased.
This number has been dramatically reduced over 30 years. Previously around 50 per cent of public crossings (∼1,750) were unguarded.
ProRail president Pier Eringa said that unguarded level crossings are dangerous intersections and are “no longer of this time.”
In 2017, 10 unguarded level-crossings were eliminated and ProRail will be working to secure the remaining crossings “as quickly as possible.”
This is achieved by either abolishing the crossing and diverting traffic to a level crossing – ProRail’s preferred option – or securing an unguarded crossing with barriers, bells and indicators.
Read more: Bizarre video shows motorist risking their life to take photos of a car on a level-crossing