WA on track for life-saving level crossing upgrades

Railway crossings in Western Australia are on track to receive significant upgrades thanks to the Australian Government’s Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund (RLCUF).

The RLCUF aims to improve railway crossing safety in regional areas and reduce serious and fatal accidents that have a devastating impact on communities.

The Australian Government has committed $160 million over four years to state and territory governments to fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of delivering railway crossing upgrades.

The WA Government will fund 50 per cent of projects costs and receive $7.1 million in the first round of funding, which will go towards a proposed program of works across regional areas of the state’s road network.

The proposed list includes 14 priority projects for railway crossing improvements across regional areas of the WA road and rail network.

These upgrades include installing flashing lights, audible warning devices, enhanced signage along with a pedestrian maze upgrade to increase the visibility of crossings on both sides of the roadway in response to approaching trains.

More information on the RLCUF and its guidelines is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website.

Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Australian Government is committed to improving railway crossing safety across the country through the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund.

“This funding will provide upgrading of treatments such as signage, boom gates, flashing and rumble strips, to better alert motorists and pedestrians approaching regional railway crossings.

“This funding is part of the broader Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program (RALCSP), which is investing $180 million to deliver a coordinated and holistic approach to improving railway crossing safety across the country.

“The RALCSP also invests in education and awareness activities on how to behave safely around railway crossings, improved data and risk assessments, along with research and trials to promote low-cost, innovative safety solutions.”

Quotes attributable to WA Transport and Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:

“The Western Australian Government places a high priority on improving level crossing safety in regional WA, which is why we have established a program to upgrade high priority level crossings to active controls and replace all give-way controlled crossings with a minimum of a stop sign.

“The $7.1 million contribution from the Australian Government in the first round of the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund is a major boost to improving level crossing safety and will allow us to expand our existing program of work.

“I welcome the Australian Government’s contribution and commitment to improving the safety of level crossings in regional Western Australia.”

Funded projects: