Dangerous road design around Renfrew Street Level Crossing
Patrick Dunford made this Official Information request to Invercargill City Council
The request was successful.
From: Patrick Dunford
Dear Invercargill City Council,
Given the obvious dangerous road design around the Renfrew St, Invercargill railway crossing which is the subject of a news report of a car-train collision in the ODT today, what is the extent of knowledge that ICC has about safety issues there?
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Dunford
From: Russell Pearson
Invercargill City Council
Renfrew Street:
We have checked the Customer Service records ( RFS) and other document management (Objective) systems for relevant service requests relating to the rail crossing.
•Only one interaction related to the request has been identified and this related to pedestrian in this area.
•No other requests relating to the railway was identified
The National Crash Analysis System ( CAS managed by Waka Kotahi) does not hold any crashes relating to railway crashes at this site for the last 10 years. Kiwi Rail may however have additional data.
In Summary:
Council is not aware of any specific historical crash information relating to this rail crossing.
The site has Kiwirail automated bell and lights installed.
It is noted that the distance from the rail to Drury Lane intersection (on Renfrew Street) is very short which is seen as an undesirable aspect in any new design.
The site will be reviewed and a discussion had with Kiwi Rail if improvements can be considered.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Regards
Russell Pearson
Customer Services
Customer Services Team
Invercargill City Council
[email address]
P: 032111777 D: 032111777
Russell Pearson
Manager – Strategic Asset Planning
Invercargill City Council
[email address]
P: 032111777 D: 032111645 M: 0274357493
101 Esk Street, Invercargill, 9810 Private Bag 90104101 Esk Street, Invercargill, 9810 Private Bag 90104-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Dunford <[FOI #21635 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 26 January 2023 5:43 PM
To: Customer Services <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Dangerous road design around Renfrew Street Level Crossing
Dear Invercargill City Council,
Given the obvious dangerous road design around the Renfrew St, Invercargill railway crossing which is the subject of a news report of a car-train collision in the ODT today, what is the extent of knowledge that ICC has about safety issues there?
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Dunford
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From: Patrick Dunford
Dear Russell Pearson,
Transport Accident Investigation Commission in the course of its investigations into numerous level crossing accidents frequently cites driver workload as a safety factor when road intersections are placed close to level crossings. Drivers are likely to experience a high workload when making a right turn onto Renfrew Street from Drury Lane and possibly also for a right turn from Maltby Lane with the result of insufficient stopping distance for the crossing if a train is approaching, after completing the right turn.
Apart from this, there appears to be insufficient stacking distance at the Gloucester Street/Drury Lane/Renfrew St intersection for a long vehicle to stop clear of the crossing.
Yours sincerely,
Patrick Dunford
From: Russell Pearson
Invercargill City Council
Thanks for your email and appreciate your interest and input.
I would agree that a busy intersection does place higher requirements of drivers. Your comments on the layout at rail crossings is a known issue and often very difficult to resolve.
Russell Pearson
Russell Pearson
Manager – Strategic Asset Planning
Invercargill City Council
[email address]
P: 032111777 D: 032111645 M: 0274357493
101 Esk Street, Invercargill, 9810 Private Bag 90104-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Dunford <[FOI #21635 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 2 March 2023 12:15 AM
To: Russell Pearson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Dangerous road design around Renfrew Street Level Crossing
Dear Russell Pearson,
Transport Accident Investigation Commission in the course of its investigations into numerous level crossing accidents frequently cites driver workload as a safety factor when road intersections are placed close to level crossings. Drivers are likely to experience a high workload when making a right turn onto Renfrew Street from Drury Lane and possibly also for a right turn from Maltby Lane with the result of insufficient stopping distance for the crossing if a train is approaching, after completing the right turn.
Apart from this, there appears to be insufficient stacking distance at the Gloucester Street/Drury Lane/Renfrew St intersection for a long vehicle to stop clear of the crossing.
Yours sincerely,
Patrick Dunford
-----Original Message-----
Renfrew Street:
We have checked the Customer Service records ( RFS) and other document management (Objective) systems for relevant service requests relating to the rail crossing.
•Only one interaction related to the request has been identified and this related to pedestrian in this area.
•No other requests relating to the railway was identified
The National Crash Analysis System ( CAS managed by Waka Kotahi) does not hold any crashes relating to railway crashes at this site for the last 10 years. Kiwi Rail may however have additional data.
In Summary:
Council is not aware of any specific historical crash information relating to this rail crossing.
The site has Kiwirail automated bell and lights installed.
It is noted that the distance from the rail to Drury Lane intersection (on Renfrew Street) is very short which is seen as an undesirable aspect in any new design.
The site will be reviewed and a discussion had with Kiwi Rail if improvements can be considered.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Regards
Russell Pearson
Customer Services
Customer Services Team
Invercargill City Council
[email address]
P: 032111777 D: 032111777
Russell Pearson
Manager – Strategic Asset Planning
Invercargill City Council
[email address]
P: 032111777 D: 032111645 M: 0274357493
101 Esk Street, Invercargill, 9810 Private Bag 90104101 Esk Street, Invercargill, 9810 Private Bag 90104
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #21635 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
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