![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/C4F817A6-AF19-4C18-8D95-32BE3B476C88/AAEWY8.jpg)
Train crossing Unmanned Merseyrail railway crossing Southport Town, Merseyside, UK
Many users of level crossings are not aware of the risks that they are exposed to when attempting to cross the railway lines. For instance, an express passenger train weighing as much as 500 tons can take up to one and a half miles to stop. It is also extremely difficult for first time users to gauge the speed of an oncoming train. If in doubt they should wait until it has passed. Many people also assume that all trains run on the left hand side of the tracks just like cars on the roads. This is not always the case, as trains can run in either direction on the tracks, depending on the location or the circumstances. At all crossings there are instruction boards, which are there to remind users of the procedure to cross safely. At crossings where the gates are operated by the road user such as those on farms, ensure that both gates either side of the railway are open and the exit is clear before crossing – and remember to close the gates behind you. Never cross if a train is approaching. Before crossing with a large or slow-moving vehicle or when herding animals, if there is a telephone provided it should be used to contact the signaller in order gain permission to cross and to tell him when you are clear of the crossing.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Southport Merseyside, Scotland uk
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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