85% of ungaurded rail crossings in Netherlands have been closed or secured

Roughly 85 percent of the most dangerous level crossings in the Netherlands have either been closed or better secured over the past eight years, reported broadcaster NOS based on figures from ProRail. The Dutch railroad manager launched the project in 2018 to tackle the 180 most critical points along the track, and 28 still need to be addressed.

The unguarded crossings do not have active safety measures, like a boom that lowers to form a barrier when a train is approaching, or warning lights and bells. When trains pass, they often fly by at full speed, which can be up to 150 kilometers per hour. The crossings are mainly in rural areas, and often concern only a foot path, though sometimes a road crosses over the tracks at the location.

A tragic accident that left several children dead in September 2018 ultimately led to the project. A Stint electronic cargo bike stalled on a rail crossing in Oss, and was struck by an oncoming train. The accident left four children dead, and another injured. The daycare worker driving the vehicle was also hurt.

A motorist was killed in a separate crash one month earlier when an Arriva train struck a car in Scheemda. Towards the end of November 2018, ProRail released a video showing a compilation of near-misses at unguarded crossings, estimating there had been about 3,600 that year alone. The Dutch government budgeted money to close the crossings a day later.

ProRail was set to close two locations in Diepenveen on Monday, bringing the total down from 30 to 28 unguarded crossings. Up to 13 more could be dealt with this year, and five more should be closed off by the end of next year.

"The majority of this job has now been completed," ProRail spokesperson Mirjam de Witte told NOS. "By the end of 2025, we aim to have 170 of the 180 unguarded crossings closed."

The progress has slashed the average number of collisions at unguarded crossings in half, she said. “And this also applies to the number of deaths," De Witte continued. "In 2014, an average of 2.8 deaths occurred annually at an unguarded crossing, but that figure has now been halved."

The process can be costly, with barriers, visual and audible signals requiring roughly a million euros. Building a tunnel under the tracks is not cheaper, either. The work is often slowed by issues like animal protection, landowners who drag out talks with ProRail, and planning periods when trains can be stopped so work can be safely completed.

There are roughly 2,000 railroad crossings at roads, foot paths and cycling paths in the Netherlands.