Level Crossing Risk Assessment Polegate MCB
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Level Crossing Risk Assessment Polegate MCB Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 1 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 3 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Reason for the risk assessment 3 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE 4 2.1 Crossing details 4 2.2 Environment 6 2.3 Future developments 9 2.4 Incident history over the last 5 years 10 3 OPTION ASSESSMENT 11 3.1 Residual risks 11 3.2 Option Selection 12 4 APPROVALS 13 Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 2 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background This document provides the necessary supporting safety information to a decision making process for the renewal of Polegate MCB level crossing, leading to recommendations as to the most suitable level crossing option that reduces the risk to as low as reasonably practicable. This report includes the necessary risk assessment to support the chosen option. 1.2 Reason for the risk assessment This risk assessment has been produced in conjunction with the East Sussex Resignalling project which will see the abolition of Polegate Signalbox and the renewal of Polegate MCB Crossing. This document demonstrates the decision making undertaken in determining the practicability of this proposal and the evaluation of the necessary safety measures required at the level crossing; culminating in a single preferred option. This document is derived from and fulfils the guidance criteria stipulated. The signalling renewal works associated with this project, East Sussex re-signalling, is driven by asset condition, safety and obsolescence. The project is also part of the National Operating Strategy (NOS) scheme which will achieve the signalling renewal and the Control Period 4 (CP4) operating strategy objectives through the re- signalling of the East Sussex line. The scope of the project includes the abolition of 5 mechanical Signal Boxes, Berwick, Polegate, Hampden Park, Pevensey and Westham and Bexhill. The project will also close the manned gate box at Havensmouth and re control the existing Eastbourne area to a new workstation which will be situated in the new Three Bridges Operating Centre. The project is also looking at line speed improvements where existing Permanent Speed Restrictions are present between Glynde and Hampden Park. Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 3 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE 2.1 Crossing details Down side crossing approach Up side crossing approach Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 4 2.1 Crossing Details cont’d Crossing Name Polegate Crossing Type MCB Strategic Route Sussex Network Rail Line of Route Keymer Junction to Eastbourne Engineers Line Reference (ELR) KJE3 Mileage 19m 35ch OS Grid Reference TQ582048 Post Code BN26 6AQ Road Name (type) Unclassified - High Street Local Authority East Sussex County Council Supervising Signalbox Polegate Electrification (type) 3rd Rail DC Number of Running Lines Two Line Speed at Crossing 90mph Maximum Permissible Line Speed 90mph Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 5 2.2 Environment Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 6 a) approaches Polegate MCB is of a single carriageway in each direction of travel. The carriageways are clearly defined with central road markings painted up to and including over the level crossing. The width of each carriageway approach remains consistent throughout and this is continued across Polegate MCB itself. There are no significant gradients present on either side of the level crossing which could be considered detrimental to the stopping of traffic. Polegate MCB is situated on an unclassified road – High Street and is situated adjacent to Polegate Railway Station. High Street Polegate links the A22 to the A27. b) Local properties, businesses and amenities Polegate MCB is situated in a rural/urban area with residential properties and a mixture off retail outlets on both sides of the crossing. There are also local schools within the area. c) Rail approach and usage Polegate MCB level crossing is located on the line of route known as the Keymer Junction to Eastbourne line. The permissible line speed at this location is 90mph on both lines. The maximum permissible line speed is 90mph. The level of service over the crossing is normally 8 trains per hour, 4 to Lewes and 4 to Eastbourne. There is no booked freight on this line with services being electric passenger services operated by Southern Trains. Future Control of Polegate MCB Following the abolition of 5 mechanical Signal Boxes, Berwick, Polegate, Hampden Park, Pevensey and Westham and Bexhill, closure of the manned gate box at Havensmouth and the re control the existing Eastbourne area to a new workstation which will be situated in the new Three Bridges Operating Centre. This workstation will also be responsible for the supervision of 4 MCB –OD, 2 CCTV and 4 AHB crossings. A full ergonomics study was undertaken in August 2011 which concluded that the existing signalling controls of the Berwick, Polegate, Hampden Park, Pevensey and Westham, Bexhill, Havensmouth and Eastbourne could be transferred to the new Three Bridges Operating Centre. This ergonomics study however was based on the Signaller having operation of 3 MCB –OD, 3 CCTV and 4 AHB crossings. The ergonomics study will be revisited once final design is complete. Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 7 Sectional Appendix Extract Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 8 2.3 Future developments There are no future developments planned in the Berwick MCB area. Network Rail continues to monitor planning applications and will review the risks at Berwick should things change Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 9 2.4 Incident history over the last 5 years The following table details the incident number and type known to have occurred at Polegate MCB level crossing within the past 5 years. Incident date Fataities Collisions Barrier strikes Near misses Other Person vaulted 30/11/2007 the barriers MOP tripped on 02/05/2008 crossing Taxi zig zagged 15/08/2009 around barriers White van struck 04/01/2010 barrier 4 youths climbed 24/01/2010 over barriers MOP walked off 21/07/2010 the end of platform MOP on crossing 19/11/2010 refused to move Mobility scooter 28/09/2011 struck barrier 20/12/2011 Bus struck barrier male walked across in front of stationary train when barriers were down – not a near miss 0 0 3 0 7 There have been a number of red light violations, and MOP jumping the barriers which are listed above under misuse. There have been no reported near misses. There has been 1 reported accident at this location which involved a tripping accident on the crossing. Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 10 3 OPTION ASSESSMENT 3.1 Residual risks Polegate MCB level crossing was risk assessed on the 22nd June 2010 in accordance with the approved company standards and processes. The collected data set derived (inclusive of thirty minute census) was fully evaluated by the “All Level Crossing Risk Model” (ALCRM). The ALCRM evaluation for Polegate is an individual risk score of ‘F’ and a collective risk score of ‘2’ based upon the collection data set defined above; ‘F2’.* The key risk drivers identified by the toolset and which contribute toward this risk score are: Crossing near station Large number of users The census carried out in June 2010 translated into an expected average of 6885 vehicular movements and 2214 pedestrian movements per day over the level crossing. For later comparison, a full 9-day census was undertaken. The survey covered the period Saturday, 15 January 2011 to Sunday, 23 January 2011 inclusive. The survey hours were scheduled as 06 00 to 24 00 hours daily. The results of the 9-day survey are shown in the table below:- The Nationwide Data Collection service who undertook the survey observed the following busiest times: For vehicles the busiest quarter hourly period occurred at 1700 -1715 hours on Thursday 20th January 2011 – 222 vehicles. For pedestrians the busiest quarter hourly period occurred at 1515 -1530 hours on Monday 17th January 2011 – 50 Adult pedestrians and 103 unaccompanied children. Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 11 3.2 Option Selection The table below affords a summary of the options considered*, the safety reductions achieved and the benefit to cost ratio applicable to each. * The options listed are not ordered by preference. * Cost benefit analysis has been undertaken within ALCRM for comparable purposes; third party funding agreed in principle for delivery. Option ALCRM ALCRM Safety Benefit Cost Benefit Cost Comments Ratio Risk Score FWI FWI MCB – Manually Controlled F2 This option would require the attention of the MCB-CCTV H3 0.007348328 0.00814534 2,000,000 0.08 Signaller at Three Bridges Operating Centre to operate the barrier controls. This option would be automatic and would only MCB-OD (obstacle detection H3 0.005878662 0.009620309 2,000,000 0.09 require the Signaller at Three Bridges Operating system) Centre to monitor the barrier controls. This option would eradicate delay to users of Closure by bridging M13 0.0 0.015520182 20,000,000 0.02 Polegate MCB and also nullify all associated risk drivers attributed to the level crossing. Polegate MCB Level Crossing Risk Assessment 12 The upgrade of Polegate MCB level crossing to type approved full barrier MCB-OD is the single option selected for progression following evaluation. This option is considered to represent the greatest cumulative benefit when taking account of safety risk, risk reduction and cost benefit. Informed decision making With closure and bridging discounted through lack of business justification, the upgrading of the level crossing to MCB OD was considered. MCB-OD will have the facility to record red light jumpers registration numbers which will reduce the misuse at this location. It was noted that there were differences in the levels of traffic and pedestrians recorded in ALCRM and that of the 9 day census.