Level Crossings

over
Indian Railways
Classification
Class of LC Criteria
Special If TVUs > 50,000
‘A’ Class If TVUs > 30,000 but < 50,000
Or the Line capacity utilization is 80% (on single line) and
number of road vehicles greater than 1000 (in a week).
‘B’ Class If TVUs > 20,000 but < 30,000 and number of road vehicles
greater than 750 (in a week). Its subdivisions are as -
i) ‘B1’ Class If TVUs > 25,000 but < 30,000

ii) ‘B2’ Class If TVUs > 20,000 but < 25,000

‘C’ Class All other LCs not covered in above classes.

*TVU It is Train Vehicle Unit.

Census of Traffic at LC
• In every 3 years, it is carried out for 24hrsx7days.
• Representative of Engg., S&T and Traffic Deptt.
• Train, Road Vehicle, Bullock carts and Tongas are 1TVU.
• Cycle Rickshaw/Auto Rickshaw are taken as ½ TVU.
• Motorized 2 Wheelers are taken as ¼ TVU.
• Average Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) is find out for a week.
• Thus LCs are classified.
Track Structure at Level Crossings –

I. Rail joints should be avoided in check rails and on the running rails,
within the level crossings and three metres on either side from the
end of level crossing.

II. In the case of SWR (Short Welded Rail), the short-welded panel may
be continued through the level crossing, avoiding fish plated joint on
the level crossing and within six metres from the end of level
crossing.

III. The level crossing should not fall within the breathing length of LWR
(Long Welded Rail).

(*A length of greater than 250 m on Broad Gauge (BG) will normally function
as LWR. The maximum length of LWR under Indian conditions shall normally be
restricted to one block section).
(The breathing length is the length at each end of LWR, which is subjected to expansion/contraction
on account of temperature variations.)
• At the approaches of all
LCs, bilingual whistle
boards as per design
should be provided at 600
meters along the track
from the LC.

• The drivers of
approaching trains should
whistle continuously from
the time they pass the WB
to the time they cross the
LC.
• Provision of rumble strips
on approaches of level
crossings as per the
standard design is the
responsibility of the Road
Authorities.
• It is incumbent upon
Railways to provide speed
breakers as per the
standard design on level
crossings irrespective of
whether the approach
road is metalled or un-
metalled, as a temporary
safety measure, till such
time these are replaced
with rumble strips of
proper design by the Road
authorities.
Guidelines for providing Speed Breakers –

i) One speed breaker should be provided on either approach of level

crossings at a distance of about 20 m from the gate post of the Level
Crossing, covering full width of the road including berms.

ii) This may require construction of speed breaker by railway outside

railway boundary.

iii) For roads with central median/One-Way Roads, speed breaker is to

be provided on the entry side of the road only.

iv) The paint marking should be provided.

v) Standard warning signs for speed breakers should be invariably

provided at a prescribed distance.

vi) Speed breakers should be constructed with suitable Material

depending on the type of road and traffic.
 Railway Station
• A railway station is a facility with service building and sheds that has
railway tracks for trains to carry passengers or goods from one place
to another. There are different kinds of railways stations, some are
above ground while some are underground as well.
• The station platform is made at a some elevation with the tracks.
• It is equipped up with passenger amenities, signalling and
telecommunication system along with security systems for railway,
goods and passengers.
 Types of Stations
a) On the basis of Block System Working-

IR's classification of stations is linked to their rules for block system working in
four types-

i) Class-A ii) Class-B iii) Class-C iv) Class-D

Class A: Such a station is one where the Line Clear indication for the block may
not be given unless the line where the train is to be received is clear at least for
up to the starter signal (or, in some cases, for at least 400m ahead of the home
signal). These are stations where many trains normally run through without
stopping at a high speed, hence the need for the safety margin to prevent
accidents in cases of trains overrunning signals.

Class B: Such a station is one where the Line Clear indication may be given
before the section of the line within the station has been cleared for reception of
a train. Branch lines and routes with lower running speeds fall into this category.
 Types of Stations
Class C: This is a station (or block hut) marking an end of a block section, with
light traffic or where no trains are booked to stop, such as an intermediate block
post. (Sometimes these stations exist only in the form of a signal cabin that
controls the approach to another station.) Permission to approach may not be
given for a train unless the whole of the last preceding train has passed complete
at least 400m beyond the home signal and is known to be continuing on its
journey.

Class D: This is a station which does not form the boundary of a block section
but which does form a stopping place for trains. Trains are stopped by various
ad hoc arrangements prescribed in view of the local conditions — the driver may
simply know to stop the train there, or it may be flagged down on demand, etc.
Also known as a non-block station or flag station.
 Types of Stations
Stations of classes A through C are known as block stations. The Class C
stations are also sometimes known as block huts or block posts. Class D
stations are known as non-block stations - they do not mark the ends of
block sections. (Note that there also exist Intermediate Block Posts where
block sections can be terminated without the presence of a station.)

Any station that is not classified under one of the classes A through D is
known as a Special Station and must use specific working rules issued
by the Commissioner of Rail Safety.

Sometimes stations are classified as Class A if there is a bridge or steep

gradient just before the station in one or both directions, so that it is not
safe for trains to stop there before entering station limits.
 Types of Stations
b) Commercial classification
Criteria for categorization of stations have been revised w.e.f. November, 2017.
As per the new categorization, both number of footfalls and passenger earnings
of stations have been taken into account for categorization of stations.

The stations have been clubbed into 3 groups-

i) Non-suburban (NSG)
ii) Suburban (SG)
iii) Halt (HG)

Further these groups have been put in grades ranging from 1-6 (in NSG), 1-3 (in
SG) and 1-3 (in HG) on the basis of passenger earnings and / or outward
passengers handled at a station for ensuring minimum essential amenities across
different categories.
 NON SUBURBAN STATIONS
Category of Criteria of Proposed Earnings Criteria of Proposed outward
Station passengers handled at

NSG-1 More than 500 Cr. More than 20 Million

NSG-2 More than 100 Cr., less than More than 10 Million, less than
or equal to 500 Cr. or equal to 20 Million.

NSG-3 More than 20 Cr., less than or More than 05 Million, less than
equal to 100 Cr. or equal to 10 Million.

NSG-4 More than 10 Cr., less than or More than 02 Million, less than
equal to 20 Cr. or equal to 05 Million.

NSG-5 More than 01 Cr., less than or More than 01 Million, less than
equal to 10 Cr. or equal to 02 Million.

NSG-6 Less than or equal to 01 Cr. Less than or equal to 01 Million.

 SUBURBAN STATIONS
Category of Criteria of Proposed Earnings Criteria of Proposed outward
Station passengers handled at

SG-1 More than 25 Cr. More than 30 Million

SG-2 More than 10 Cr., less than or More than 10 Million, less than
equal to 25 Cr. or equal to 30 Million.

SG-3 Less than or equal to 10 Cr. Less than or equal to 10 Million.

 HALT STATIONS
Category of Criteria of Proposed Earnings Criteria of Proposed outward
Station passengers handled at

HG-1 More than 50 lakh More than 03 lakh

HG-2 More than 05 lakh, less than More than 01 lakh, less than or
or equal to 50 lakh equal to 03 lakh

HG-3 Less than or equal to 05 lakh Less than or equal to 01 lakh

•
Railway Stations Classification
Until 2017, stations were also classified based on their commercial importance
into categories ‘A’, ‘B’, ... etc., which was rather confusing.

• In the commercial importance classification scheme, a non-suburban station with

annual passenger earnings over Rs.60 million was a Category A station.

• Category B stations had earnings between Rs.30 million and 60 million.

• Any suburban station not falling into the ‘B’ category was considered as
Category C station.

• Non-suburban stations with earnings between Rs.10 million and 30 million were
Category D stations while non-suburban stations with lower earnings fell into
Category E.

• Halt stations were classified as Category F stations.

• Interestingly, the commercial classification determines many of the construction

aspects of the station like platform levels, and other passenger amenities.

• Stations of categories E and F had only rail-level platforms.