Requirements for Railway Sections within Level Crossings

The State has also issued numerous policies regarding the aforementioned issue, one of which is Circular No. 25/2018/TT-BGTVT regulating level crossings and issuing construction permits for essential works within the railway land area.

According to Circular No. 25, railway sections within the scope of level crossings must meet the following requirements:

1. Technical Requirements

The structure of the level crossing road surface must install guard rails or other structures to create inner gaps between the main rail with either the guard rail or the structure that meets the following requirements:

- The guard rail or structure creating the rail gap must be installed within the scope of both shoulders of the road;- Rail gap width:- For level crossings on straight tracks or curved tracks with a radius of 500 meters or more: The rail gap is 75 millimeters;- For level crossings on curved tracks with a radius of less than 500 meters: The rail gap is 75 millimeters + 1/2 of the curve widening as per the National Technical Regulations on railway operations.- The rail gap depth is at least 45 millimeters (mm);- In case the road surface within the railway is asphalt concrete, guard rails must be used to create the rail gap; the elevation of the guard rail must be equal to that of the main rail;- In case the road surface within the railway comprises reinforced concrete slabs, the edge of the slab adjacent to the main rail must have a special structure to create the rail gap;- In case guard rails are installed, the rail ends must be treated as follows:- Both rail ends are bent inward towards the railway. The length of the bent section of the guard rail is 500 millimeters, the rail gap at the bending start, and the final position of the rail is 250 millimeters.- The locations where bending starts and the final position of the guard rail must be tightly connected to the sleepers;- No rail joints should be placed within the level crossing. If the level crossing is long, the rail joint must be welded, and if welding is not yet feasible, the rail must be kept tightly connected;- All connection fittings and rail fasteners must be complete and securely linked.

2. Material Requirements:

- Sleepers placed within the scope of the level crossing must use reinforced concrete sleepers, limiting the use of iron or wooden sleepers. If wooden sleepers are used, they must be made of good quality wood treated with oil to prevent rot;- The ballast foundation at the level crossing must be clean, have sufficient thickness, and meet the prescribed standards.

Circular No. 25/2018/TT-BGTVT takes effect from July 1, 2018.

- Thanh Lam -

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