Why the heck did they build a level crossing in to a new piece of rail?

Brolgan Rd will form an access to the PN Parkes Terminal but only a little local traffic would be coming from the West over this LXing, so lights, bells and booms is probably adequate, although I'd hate to be one of the locals heading into town and get stuck at the crossing while an 1800m long train slowly pulls in in/out of the yard.

What struck me is why did they build the crossing in mass concrete?  
They have created a fixed point that can't be lifted, let alone tamped.
Also, the track will develop a hole on each side of the crossing.
With low speeds it won't happen overnight, but it will happen, and it will be very difficult to do anything with.
Let's hope an underground spring doesn't decide to break to the surface right there!

Why the heck did they build a level crossing in to a new piece of rail?

What struck me is why did they build the crossing in mass concrete?  

There are hundreds of level crossings of this design throughout NSW, they are standard these days. Thank god Railpage experts aren’t working on projects like this - Brolgan Road would have a $2 million overpass to take five cars a day to the next level crossing.

Mud holes to ski jumps.

Why the heck did they build a level crossing in to a new piece of rail?

What struck me is why did they build the crossing in mass concrete?  

There are hundreds of level crossings of this design throughout NSW, they are standard these days. Thank god Railpage experts aren’t working on projects like this - Brolgan Road would have a $2 million overpass to take five cars a day to the next level crossing.

Yes and in NSW we are trying to get rid of them all. If there is going to be a major intermodal then it is going to have more then five cars a day going across that crossing.

There are hundreds of level crossings of this design throughout NSW, they are standard these days. Thank god Railpage experts aren’t working on projects like this - Brolgan Road would have a $2 million overpass to take five cars a day to the next level crossing.

True, there are many such concrete crossings, unfortunately. But many crossings in the last (say) 25yrs have been made with removable road surface segments in concrete, rubber or steel chequer plate. The beauty of these is that they can be lifted out to allow track maintenance, then replaced; can be completed in a few hours

Why the heck did they build a level crossing in to a new piece of rail?

What struck me is why did they build the crossing in mass concrete?  

There are hundreds of level crossings of this design throughout NSW, they are standard these days. Thank god Railpage experts aren’t working on projects like this - Brolgan Road would have a $2 million overpass to take five cars a day to the next level crossing.

Yes and in NSW we are trying to get rid of them all. If there is going to be a major intermodal then it is going to have more then five cars a day going across that crossing.

Yes LX are evil, people die and should be avoided if possible, but many never will be and there are other ways to help reduce the risk other than dropping Billions into it over night especially if the train speed is low and the visibility is good.

If the crossing is frequented by heavy vehicles then these so called professional drivers need protection from themselves as well as those on the train, what ever that entails.

True, there are many such concrete crossings, unfortunately. But many crossings in the last (say) 25yrs have been made with removable road surface segments in concrete, rubber or steel chequer plate. The beauty of these is that they can be lifted out to allow track maintenance, then replaced; can be completed in a few hours

Removable plate types also require maintenance, and many have been replaced or sealed over in recent years.

Final alignment for the QLD section of IRP (Inland Rail Project) have been taken to affected landholders ahead of publication.  Changes now could still occur subject to environmental impact assessments and/or State Government directives.  

5915

Now it seems we have an inquiry

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/inland-rail-under-microscope-from-inquiry

Interestingly this was released at 0101 E.D.T. (0001 E.S.T.) this morning.

For some reason, the "Insert Link" tab has been broken for the last couple of days.



https://youtu.be/MByWaHFoOhM

Edit: It appears that it doesn't matter that you don't use the "Insert Link" tab.

That looks all very nice but when will they build it?

True, there are many such concrete crossings, unfortunately. But many crossings in the last (say) 25yrs have been made with removable road surface segments in concrete, rubber or steel chequer plate. The beauty of these is that they can be lifted out to allow track maintenance, then replaced; can be completed in a few hours

Removable plate types also require maintenance, and many have been replaced or sealed over in recent years.

I remember we installed a modular crossing nearly 40 years ago. The ballasted track and formation just ran through and it was a simple matter to lift the panels out and run the tamper through, only closing the road for a few minutes. Damaged road panels could be quickly replaced.

That looks all very nice but when will they build it?

This might help.



https://youtu.be/Jq7Sx2uCfXg




https://youtu.be/sRT8Bo6aMnU

The tinfoil hat brigade are out in full force against Inland rail.

The latest mad conspiracy theory is that the Govt are starting the bushfires so it's easier to build it.  These are the people that vote for Fraser Anning and similar whackos.

The tinfoil hat brigade are out in full force against Inland rail.

The latest mad conspiracy theory is that the Govt are starting the bushfires so it's easier to build it.  These are the people that vote for Fraser Anning and similar whackos.

Yeah, the western plains vegetation is so intense that you need a bush first so as to be able to run a bull dozer through it.

Idiots!

Track&Signal magazine has an article with some aerial photos of the new track near the Brolgan Road West junction.
The turnouts near that level xing are high speed types,  though the exact speeds are not specified.