Level Crossing Removal Planning Program

There are 126 at-grade level crossings of the road and rail network in Adelaide. Some of these level crossings boom-gates are closed to road users, including pedestrians, for up to 25% of peak traffic periods while a train passes.

Level crossings can lead to safety problems and travel time unpredictability as trains, cars, buses, trucks, cyclists and pedestrians’ cross paths. Pedestrian and vehicle collisions and boom-gate strike crashes can result in injuries or fatalities, as well as property damage and delays on transport networks.

Longer boom-gate closures can also create separation between the adjacent community and reduce amenity in residential areas.

These problems are expected to worsen as road traffic and the frequency of rail services increase with population growth in South Australia.

Benefits vary across each location however, often include:

• improved safety for all users by removing the danger of trains sharing a crossing with vehicles and other users;
• increased travel time reliability by removing uncertainty around when and how long boom-gate closures will occur;
• reduced delays caused by boom-gate closures;
• improved cyclist and pedestrian connectivity and safety along the rail line and to railway stations;
• improved the efficiency and reliability of transport movements to enhance the economic productivity; and
• opportunities to add value for the community and commuters, such as creating new open space, building new shared use walking and cycling paths or commissioning public artwork.

A review of Metropolitan Adelaide’s remaining at-grade level crossings has been undertaken, resulting in identification of priority sites for removal.

The criteria used to determine the highest priorities were:

• safety outcomes;
• efficiency and growth;
• community liveability;
• strategic importance;
• affordability;
• social impact;
• environmental and heritage impact;
• constructability;
• freight, peak hour and public transport hierarchy; and
• cycling and pedestrian hierarchy.

Both the Gawler passenger line and the ARTC national freight line cross Park Terrace at Salisbury. The level crossing experiences significant pedestrian activity both across the rail line, and along it between the Salisbury and Nurlutta stations. Pedestrian safety incidents are high.

The high pedestrian volumes, safety concerns, and proximity to the Salisbury Town Centre results in the Park Terrace, Salisbury level crossing being a high priority for review.

Both the Gawler passenger line and the ARTC national freight line crosses Kings Road at Parafield. The Parafield station and Park ‘n’ Ride is located just to the south of the crossing. The area around the level crossing is subject to local flooding.

The strategic importance of Kings Road, proximity to the Parafield station and Park ‘n’ Ride, and relative ease of constructability results in the Kings Road, Parafield level crossing being a high priority for review.

Both the Gawler passenger line and the ARTC national freight line crosses Cormack Road at Wingfield. Cormack Road is a strategic connection to the Wingfield industrial precinct and caters for high volumes of freight and commercial vehicles.

The strategic importance of the level crossing to industrial and economic activity and the current unreliability of travel times results in the Cormack Road, Wingfield level crossing being a high priority for review.

When removing level crossings where rail intersect with the road network, there are generally five different options, including under or over of road or rail, or the closure of the road at the railway line. The best option will differ from site to site and not all options will be viable at all sites.

Deciding which is the best option is a major part of the planning process and a balanced decision will be made based on a detailed analysis of technical limitations and constraints, community input, an assessment of the benefits versus financial costs, likely construction impacts, environmental and heritage impacts, acquisition impacts, and the likely impact on local residents and businesses.

At the conclusion of this phase of the planning study a “what we heard” document will be released to the community with an overview of the feedback and insights received.

After initial planning work has been completed, the findings of the planning studies will help inform and guide Government decision-making on the funding and delivery of future level crossing removal projects.