Lydiard Street may not reopen until a permanent solution is decided on, and there is still no timeline on an interim reopening.
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Almost 10 months since the heritage railway gates were destroyed by an out-of-control passenger train, the level crossing remains blocked to traffic.
An interim report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau noted the cause of the accident appeared to be the train's braking system, with the gates not at fault - the final report is expected by the end of 2021.
Last week, V/Line representatives fronted council and the media and were unable to provide timelines or detail on how the reopening is progressing, using the word "complex" to describe the situation.
The Courier asked the office of Wendouree MP Juliana Addison for a sit-down interview with experts to explain this complexity, and was granted a tour of the site with engineers from V/Line and the Department of Transport - while they were unable to speak on the record, their observations pointed to the enormity of solving the problem safely while also keeping the heritage gates swinging.
Permanent and interim solutions are being looked at, but it appears all options remain on the table, and it will be a long process before even public consultation begins.
The safety and heritage concerns are front of mind, but there is a chance Lydiard Street will look somewhat different when it eventually reopens.
WHAT DOES V/LINE SAY?
On the record, V/Line's acting chief executive Gary Liddle said in a statement more time will be needed.
"Not only are the Lydiard Street level crossing's interlocking gates the last of their kind in Victoria, the Ballarat area is controlled by the largest remaining Relay Interlocking Signalling System on the V/Line network and is unlike any other location on the regional rail network," he said.
"The highly-technical nature of the longstanding signal operating system, which is operated remotely, means investigating, identifying and assessing suitable solutions for the future is difficult, and requires specialised knowledge and expertise - and this takes time.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW
"It is critical the right decision for the future of the crossing is made - a decision that puts the safety of passengers, staff, road users, local business owners and workers and the entire Ballarat community at the forefront.
"We will update the community with further detail as soon as possible."
WHAT IF THEY DON'T REOPEN?
The easiest thing to do would probably be permanently closing Lydiard Street at the level crossing, removing the issue of obstructing trains and traffic altogether - at least one reader has suggested this to The Courier.
However, this would block a crucial north-south link to the CBD, as Armstrong Street remains closed to north-bound traffic, and Creswick Road will only get busier.
It would also cause trouble for traffic movement around the station itself, particularly when the precinct upgrade is completed and buses begin using the new interchange, to say nothing of the permanent interruption to businesses and residents in the area.
So why not just restore the gates and put them back where they were, operating as they were?
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
The mechanism has not changed much in more than a century - the pulleys below the signal box are connected to a motor now, but they still work in the same way.
It takes between two to three minutes to safely block the intersection, which is a lot more than the expected 32-odd seconds at other level crossings.
Basically, when a train is approaching, a human operator in Melbourne presses a button, which begins the process to close the intersection.
First the traffic lights activate to make sure the entire intersection is clear of vehicles before a train approaches - if traffic is still in the area, the gates would be unable to swing.
Then the gates activate, swinging to close the crossing and locking in place.
A CCTV camera, mounted to the regional bus interchange, allows the Melbourne operator to watch the entire process.
This is the only level crossing in Victoria which still operates in this way, according to the state government.
It's also a different system to crossings which just use sensors built into the rails to close boomgates automatically.
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT?
There's also the signalling itself, as there are three different systems working, including a "very reliable" one from the 1970s, and changing how this works would require a "paradigm shift".
Ballarat has the largest remaining signalling system of its type in Victoria, and is "unlike any other location on the regional rail network".
According to V/Line, there are about 500 relays performing signalling functions in the area.
It's also a junction point for freight routes.
The gates themselves are huge pieces of timber and metal - as the seasons change, the weighting needs to be rebalanced to make sure they can swing smoothly.
When the crossing was last updated, in 2001, passenger trains weren't yet running to Wendouree or Maryborough - the engineers noted as well as these additions, there is more train stabling in Ballarat, and the recent timetable update means the gates will be closed for longer at peak times as more trains go back and forth.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE?
On Humffray Street North, the former heritage gates have been permanently installed alongside the level crossing which now uses boomgates.
This is similar to a set-up in Yarraville - it retains the heritage features while adding features that meet modern safety requirements.
A grade change - that is, an over- or under-pass - is unlikely considering how close the crossing is to the station and to other grade changes, as well as the effect it would have on the heritage and aesthetics of the site.
The engineers repeated nothing has been decided yet.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The state government's committed to sharing more information with the community and council as the situation progresses - it was suggested an aim of getting a meaningful update out every four weeks, to keep people informed.
Council has repeatedly pushed for more consultation, and for at minimum an interim reopening, with the ultimate goal being the complete restoration of the gates as they were.
Work on the station precinct upgrade is continuing, with the Goods Shed retail and conference space nearing completion, and work beginning on the new local bus interchange.
There's also early work under way on the southside masterplan, looking at the other side of the station.
Any decision on reopening the crossing, and restoring the gates, will need to consider both of these large projects, and the engineers hope to improve accessibility for people with a disability in whatever solution is decided on.
A community protest is planned for Friday, beginning at 11am, on the north side of the gates.
READ V/LINE'S FULL STATEMENT
Quotes attributable to Acting V/Line Chief Executive Officer, Gary Liddle
"The infrastructure in Ballarat is incredibly unique. Not only are the Lydiard Street level crossing's interlocking gates the last of their kind in Victoria, the Ballarat area is controlled by the largest remaining Relay Interlocking Signalling System on the V/Line network and is unlike any other location on the regional rail network."
"The highly-technical nature of the longstanding signal operating system, which is operated remotely, means investigating, identifying and assessing suitable solutions for the future is difficult, and requires specialised knowledge and expertise - and this takes time."
"Since the incident our team has been working tirelessly, ensuring we look at ever option in search for answers. This work has been comprehensive and involved industry experts both internal and external."
"It is critical the right decision for the future of the crossing is made - a decision that puts the safety of passengers, staff, road users, local business owners and workers and the entire Ballarat community at the forefront."
"This project is a priority and work behind the scenes continues with the Department of Transport. Discussions with Heritage Victoria and the City of Ballarat continue, and we will update the community with further detail as soon as possible."
Background:
"At V/Line safety is truly our number one priority and there are no shortcuts when it comes to investigating serious incidents, like the one that took place in Ballarat on 30 May 2020.
Since the incident occurred we have been working hard to ensure we do everything possible to understand exactly what occurred to ensure we learn all the lessons we can from this to help avoid a similar incident in the future.
The Lydiard Street level crossing is unique, with the interlocking gates system first installed in the late 1890s. These are the last remaining gates of this type in Victoria.
In the incident, two of the four interlocking gates, which were replicas of the originals, and the underground heritage mechanisms were damaged beyond repair.
While the gates have not been identified as a cause of the incident, it is important to understand that the historic style of the gates sees the gates close across the railway tracks when the road is open.
If a train passes through the crossing without warning - as occurred on the evening of 30 May 2020 - the gates become two dangerous obstructions (two gates interlock together on either side of the roadway), which could have numerous, significant implications. Therefore, the gates form part of the investigations and considerations for the crossing's safe future operation.
Aside from the older style of gates, there are also complexities to the signalling system in the area.
The Ballarat area is controlled by the largest remaining signalling Relay Interlocking signalling system on the V/Line network and is unlike any other location on the regional rail network, it is a technology that was common place in the mid to late 20th century. This Relay Interlocking system has around 500 relays performing signalling functions for the Ballarat area. When this system was first installed it was based on signalling requirements that are vastly different to the requirements of today and the future.
Ballarat is also a junction point, which requires interface with other line sections including Ararat and Maryborough passenger lines, and freight routes. Most of these other line sections use different technologies for their signalling control, which further complicates the signalling network.
We understand the frustration locals feel due to the duration of these investigations and the ongoing road closure. Our priority is the safety of rail and road users and anyone who visits the area.
This is a significant decision and one that is also further complicated by heritage considerations. Ballarat Station is the highest-level State Significance heritage classification, with the crossing gates and mechanisms contributing to that classification.
This project is a priority and work behind the scenes continues with the Department of Transport, including exploring options for an interim solution. Discussions with Heritage Victoria and the City of Ballarat continue, and we will update the community with further detail as soon as possible.
VLocity trains have been in operation on the network for 15 years. We have a strong safety record and run a stringent program of regular maintenance on all our trains to help ensure a safe and reliable service for our passengers.
As stated in the preliminary Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report, a potential contributory factor was performance issues with the sanding system on the incident train (VL70) were identified following testing. As a result, we completed a full survey of all VLocity trains' sanding systems and updated the process for checking these systems during regular maintenance regimes."
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