Part 9: Level crossings

Last updated: December 2008. This document ceases to be a controlled document when printed. Please refer to the current version at www.landtransport.govt.nz

5  Road marking

5.3  Requirements

The following sections outline the specific requirements for road marking around level crossings. Typical situations are illustrated in Appendix A.

5.3.1  Centrelines

Where practicable and the width is greater than 6 m, a centreline should be marked on the approaches to level crossings. Centrelines should be marked in the following manner:

• colour – reflectorised white
• width – 100 mm
• stripe – continuous
• length – at least 30 m on urban roads and at least 50 m on rural roads.

Centrelines must terminate at least:

• 2.4 m from the nearest rail edge (3 m from the centreline of the nearest railway line); and
• 2 m from flashing lights and bells (FLBs) signals and half-arm barriers (HABs).

Where the length of seal on the approach to a level crossing is not sufficient to accommodate a striped centreline, a continuous centreline must be marked for the full length of the seal.

5.3.2  No-passing lines

(a)   General

Marked no-passing lines must be placed on all approaches to level crossings, unless the road surface makes it impractical.

No-passing lines on approaches to level crossings may need to be extended in situations where sight distance limitations on the road prior to a level crossing also require the application of an overtaking restriction. The visibility requirements of section 2.05 of MOTSAM part 2 ‘Markings’ must be used to determine the extent of no-passing line markings in these cases.

Section 2.05 of MOTSAM part 2 ‘Markings’ should also be used to determine where traffic travelling in the opposite direction should also have an overtaking restriction applied.

Overtaking restrictions on the approaches to level crossings must be marked in the following manner.

• No-passing lines:
  • colour – reflectorised yellow
  • width – 100 mm, offset 100 mm from a centreline marking or another overtaking line
  • stripe – continuous
  • length – varies – see (b), (c) and (d) below.
• No-passing advance warning lines (should be marked in advance of all overtaking restrictions):
  • colour – reflectorised yellow
  • width – 100 mm, offset 100 mm from a centreline marking or another overtaking line
  • stripe – 13 m (three stripes) on urban roads, and 13 m (five stripes) on rural roads
  • gap – 7 m
  • the lines must commence 60 m in advance of no-passing lines marked on urban roads, and 100 m in advance of no-passing lines marked on rural roads.

(b)   Approaches to level crossings without intermediate warning signs

A continuous no-passing line must be marked from the level crossing ahead ‘steam train’ (WX1L or WX1R) warning signs to the limit line at the level crossing (see figures A2, A4 and A6 for examples). No-passing advance warning lines must be marked in advance of the continuous no-passing line.

(c)   Approaches to level crossings with intermediate warning signs

A continuous no-passing line must be marked from the intermediate warning sign (ie ‘level crossing alignment’ (WX40, WX41 or WX42) or ‘advance warning – type of control’ signs (WA1, WA2 or WX3)) to the limit line at the level crossing (see figures A3, A5, A7, A8 and A10 for examples). No-passing advance warning lines must be marked in advance of the continuous no-passing line.

(d)   Approaches to level crossings on side roads

Where a level crossing is located on a side road less than the appropriate level crossing ahead ‘steam train’ (WX1L or WX1R) warning sign distance from a main road intersection, a no-passing line should be marked from the main road intersection to the limit line at the level crossing (see figures A9.1–A9.4).

5.3.3  Limit lines

(a)   General

Limit lines must be marked on all sealed approaches to level crossings, to indicate the safe positions for vehicles to stop, if necessary, to avoid conflict with trains.

Limit lines must be marked at right angles to the approach road centrelines, unless site constraints make this impractical, and every part of the line must be at least:

• 2.4 m from the nearest rail edge (3 m from the centreline of the nearest railway line); and
• 2 m in advance of an FLB or a lowered HAB.

Limit lines should normally be installed at the minimum permitted clearance from the railway line to ensure drivers are encouraged to stop where adequate restart views are available and to minimise the time for vehicles to clear the railway after stopping.

Full details of limit lines can be found in the section 3.06 of MOTSAM part 2 ‘Markings’.

(b)   Limit lines for level crossings controlled by Stop signs

Limit lines at level crossings controlled by Stop signs (RP1) must be marked in the following manner:

• colour – reflectorised yellow
• width – one 200 mm wide line on urban roads, and one 300 mm wide line on rural roads
• stripe – continuous.

(c)   Limit lines for all other forms of level crossing control

Limit lines for all other forms of level crossing control must be marked in the following manner:

• colour – reflectorised white
• width – one 200 mm wide line on urban roads, and one 300 mm wide line on rural roads
• stripe – continuous.

5.3.4  Pavement messages

(a)   General

Except for the symbol ‘X’ in the ‘RAIL X’ marking (see paragraph (d) below), the lettering used for pavement messages on sealed approaches to level crossings should conform to the letter proportions specified in section 4, MOTSAM part 2 ‘Markings’.

Pavement messages must be marked in the following manner:

• colour – reflectorised white
• letter height – 2.4 m on urban roads, and 3.6 m on rural roads.

(b)   GIVE WAY marking

The Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 requires either a Give Way triangle for new markings or the word ‘GIVE’ followed by ‘WAY’ to be marked on the road surface of all sealed approaches to level crossings controlled by Give Way (RP2) signs. The triangle or the word ‘WAY’ must be marked approximately 10 m from the limit line.

(c)   STOP marking

Where practicable, the word ‘STOP’ must be marked on the road surfaces of all sealed approaches to level crossings controlled by R2-1 Stop signs (see Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004).

The word ‘STOP’ must be marked approximately 10 m from the limit line.

(d)   ‘RAIL X’ marking

Where practicable, the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 requires the word ‘RAIL’ followed by the symbol ‘X’ to be marked on the road surface of all:

• approaches to level crossings where the posted speed limit is 70 km/h or higher
• multi-lane approaches to level crossings.

The size and format of the ‘X’ and ‘RAIL’ are shown in figure A11.

Approaches to level crossings without intermediate warning signs must have the symbol ‘X’ marked approximately 10 m in advance of the level crossing ahead ‘steam train’ (WX1L or WX1R) warning signs to the limit line at the level crossing (see figures A2, A4 and A6 for examples).

The word ‘RAIL’ is to be marked approximately:

• 15 m in advance of the symbol ‘X’ on urban roads
• 25 m in advance of the symbol ‘X’ on rural roads.

Approaches to level crossings with intermediate warning signs must have the word ‘RAIL’ marked approximately 15 m beyond the intermediate warning sign (ie ‘level crossing alignment’ (WX40, WX41 or WX41) or ‘advance warning – type of control’ signs (WA1, WA2 or WX3)) to the limit line at the level crossing (see figures A3, A5, A7, A8 and A10 for examples).

The symbol ‘X’ is to be marked approximately:

• 15 m beyond the word ‘RAIL’ on urban roads
• 25 m beyond the word ‘RAIL’ on rural roads.

The ‘RAIL X’ marking may also be used on the approach to any level crossing the road controlling authority considers necessary because of high approach speeds, restricted visibility, environment problems such as sun or fog, etc.

5.3.5  No-stopping lines

On urban roads, no-stopping lines must be marked on the approaches to level crossings in the following manner:

• colour – reflectorised yellow
• width – 100 mm
• stripe – 1 m
• gap – 1 m
• length – 20 m minimum.

The length of a no-stopping restriction may need to be extended on the approaches to some level crossings, to ensure signs and control devices are visible from a safe stopping distance.

In rural areas, no-stopping lines may also be marked on the approaches to level crossings when the road controlling authority considers parked vehicles could restrict the visibility of signs and control devices from a safe stopping distance.

Refer to Appendix B - Sight distances at level crossings for safe stopping distances and visibility criteria at passive control level crossings.

5.3.6  Cross hatching (clear zones)

Where the departure of long vehicles or queues of traffic from a level crossing may be blocked by a nearby intersection or other traffic control device, an escape lane or clear zone should be provided.

Cross-hatch markings may be used to define a clear zone area that drivers should not enter when their departure from a level crossing is blocked.

Cross-hatched clear zones should be marked in the following manner:

• colour – reflectorised yellow
• cross-hatch line – 100 mm wide
• border line – 100 mm wide
• should not, on any lane, extend beyond 2.4 m from the nearest rail edge (3 m from the centreline of the nearest railway line).

For layout, see figure A12.

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