Train Whistling at Crossings

Trains whistle on the approach to crossings to alert motorists and pedestrians to their presence. Whistling is an important safety feature at railway crossings; however, residents of communities living near railway crossings find that the train whistle disturbs them particularly during the night.

 

In the past a municipality could pass an anti-whistling bylaw, have it approved by the safety regulator, and the routine whistling at crossings would stop. The legislation has changed to place the onus on both the municipality and the railway company to decide if it is appropriate to eliminate routine whistling at crossings, with no requirement for formal approval by the regulator.

 

Some studies have shown that a general ban of whistling for crossings greatly increases the probability of accidents at the crossings while other studies have found only minimal increased risk at crossings that are properly designed and equipped with appropriate warning systems. While the additional warning of the approach of a train provided by the whistle is a safety feature, the relative importance of the train whistle at crossings diminishes as the level of automated warning systems (flashing lights, gates etc.) increases.

 

Trains in Canada are operated in accordance with rules approved by Transport Canada that require trains approaching a crossing to whistle from at least ¼ mile from the crossing (CROR Rule 14(l)). There is a provision to eliminate routine whistling for crossings provided that the crossing warning system meets certain standards^* and that a Detailed Safety Assessment (DSA) does not identify safety concerns.

 

Jock Valley Engineering Ltd. can assist communities in determining if it is appropriate to consider the elimination of routine whistling at crossings.

^* Warning Systems Required Where Whistling Is To Be Eliminated

(Taken from Transport Canada Guideline No. 1)

	Motor Vehicle Crossings (No. of Tracks)		Pedestrian/Bikeway Crossings (not adjacent to motor vehicle crossings) (No. of Tracks)
Maximum Train Speed at Crossing	1	2 or more	1	2 or more
Stop & proceed	Flagging or FLB	Flagging or FLB	RCS (Note 2)	RCS (Note 2)
Up to 15 m.p.h.	FLB	FLB & G*	Flagging, or maze barriers & guide fencing (Note 5)	Flagging, or maze barriers & guide fencing (Note 5)
16 - 50 m.p.h.	FLB	FLB & G	FLB, maze barriers & guide fencing (Note 5)	FLB & G
Over 50 m.p.h.	FLB & G	FLB & G	FLB & G	FLB & G
* Except in cases where there is no possibility of a second train occurrence.

Notes:

1. Railway advance warning signs (Type WA-18, 18L, 18R, 19R, 20R) should be installed on all vehicular approaches as per clause A.3.4.2 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada.

2. RCS is pictogram type reflectorized crossing sign. These are mandatory at all public crossings.

3. FLB is flashing lights and bell.

4. FLB & G is flashing lights, bell and gates.

5. Guide fencing is for the purpose of preventing detours around the maze barriers. The design should be site specific.

6. Additional signs, signals, or a combination thereof may be required if specific safety problems exist at a particular crossing or if requirements, as outlined in the grade crossing regulations, exist for a higher form of protection.

7. Normal railway operations shall not result in approach warning times of an automatic warning system of more than 13 seconds longer than the "Approach Warning Time".

8. Traffic signals within 30m of a crossing with automatic warning systems shall be interconnected. Traffic signals over 30m from a crossing with automatic warning systems shall be interconnected if queued traffic reaches the crossing.

9. Notwithstanding the above, there may be other safety factors such as a high level of trespassing, queuing, and frequently poor environmental conditions, including fog or blowing snow, which may require a higher level of crossing protection or else the retention of whistling.