As I travelled across Russia by train there was an interesting feature at every level crossing we passed through – massive steel plates that lifted out of the roadway, preventing cars from driving around the boom gates.
Some level crossings also had a gatehouse located alongside.
With a gatekeeper on duty.
Ready to wave ‘all clear’ to the train as it passed by.
But even steel plates aren’t enough of a deterrent to some motorists who want to race across the tracks.
And unfortunately they wont protect you if the level crossing suffers a ‘wrong side’ failure, and doesn’t trigger for an approaching train.
Level crossing in Russia. pic.twitter.com/CuK3XFbRpa
— Russian Dash Cams (@CamsRussian) February 5, 2018
Further reading
Ukraine’s ‘railroad ladies’ – in pictures by Sasha Maslov.
Every level crossing with barriers in Russia has a gatekeeper.
At some (generally older) level crossing he operates the barriers, while at others he simply ensures the correct operation of equipment, and takes action if a dangerous situation happens (e.g car gets stuck on the crossing).