Level crossings help you cross railway tracks safely.
There are 2 types of level crossings. A level crossing for vehicles, and a pedestrian level crossing for anyone walking or on wheels.
Most level crossings are for public use - there are close to 1300 vehicle level crossings and about 130 pedestrian level crossings.
Take the time to find a nearby level crossing, bridge or underpass.
Crossing railway tracks anywhere else is illegal. It’s illegal to walk on or beside tracks too.
Look both ways and check there are no trains in sight before crossing. Trains are fast and quiet, they always have right of way and can’t stop in a hurry.
A pedestrian level crossing at Ngaio Station in Wellington.
Pedestrian level crossings are where the road and tracks are level. In some locations there could be a bridge or underpass to use. They’re often located beside the one for vehicles – but not always. For example, at Ngaio Station in Wellington there’s a pedestrian crossing at the station, some distance from the street.
A pedestrian level crossing will have active or passive protection. Active protection means it will have flashing lights and bells and it could have automatic gates or barriers too. Passive protection means the crossing will have signs or mazes.
Most pedestrian level crossings have a yellow tactile mat and ‘look for trains’ signs reminding people to look both ways before crossing.
'Look for trains' signs remind pedestrians to look both ways for trains.
These are located where a street or road meets a railway line.
Most have active protection that includes either:
About 600 public vehicle level crossings have passive protection of Stop or Give Way signs.
Our road code includes helpful advice for people driving near level crossings.
Road code – Giving way at railway level crossings
Alongside our partners TrackSAFE and KiwiRail, we’re on a mission to help kiwi kids learn they must use a pedestrian level crossing to cross tracks safely.
We’ve created an interactive book aimed at Year 7 and 8 students (intermediate age) to help them make safe choices around railway tracks. We also have support materials for teachers to encourage classroom discussions.
These resources are available on our website.
