Thanks Patrick - received.

I'll see what I can find out for you, I can't imagine it is a manually activated crossing, i.e that the staff would be setting them off. Rather that it is shunt movements in the yard that activate the alarms.
Here is what we said in the media following the collision at that crossing recently.

The Norfolk Road level crossing and the Norman Avenue level crossing are at either end of the Waingawa log yard. There are tracks in the yard, between the level crossings, where log trains are put together. This can involve wagons being shunted across the level crossings at times and, because signals for the two crossings are linked, shunt movements that come close to either level crossing can activate the bells and lights.

We appreciate that having to wait for shunt movements can be frustrating for motorists. However, to ensure safety, we urge everyone to be cautious when approaching any level crossing and comply with the requirement to stop when a level crossing's lights and bells are going.

KiwiRail has begun work upgrading the Wairarapa Line, which includes improving bridges, tracks and sleepers, signals and level crossing protections. In the next few years the Norfolk Road level crossing will have barrier arms added, and the new signalling system will separate the two crossings, reducing delays for motorists.

Is that sufficient to answer your query?

Cheers
Dave

Dave Allard  | Senior Government Relations Advisor
DDI: 027 201 8182
Level 4, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 593, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

www.kiwirail.co.nz

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