TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Out of sight and out of mind? Safety and procedural issues with disused and seasonal rail corridors
JO  - Case studies on transport policy
A1  - Watling, Christopher N.
A1  - Larue, Gregoire
A1  - Kidcaff, Andrew
A1  - Luke, Claudia
SP  - e101006
EP  - e101006
VL  - 12
IS  - 
N2  - Several disused and seasonal rail corridors exist in various Australasian jurisdictions that require maintenance and are accessed by road users via rail crossings. However, no research is available that examines the safety and procedural issues with these rail corridors and connected level crossings. Targeted interviews with key stakeholders (N = 15) with knowledge and experience with safety, policy, and procedures of disused lines within Australia were performed. The results suggested there was limited communication provided back to road users (e.g., via new signage) about changing rail activity; potentially increasing the risk at rail corridors. Many of the operational concerns with disused lines were framed in terms of negative financial and business-based outcomes with the local community, including resident backlash. A clear outcome was the need to pursue procedural opportunities relating to all aspects of managing a disused line. This included more specific definitions, standards, and procedures for transferring a line to a disused status, clear maintenance standards, and a well-defined process with line reopening, including communicating with local residents. Issues related to safety was a common theme throughout the interviews and it was proposed that procedural opportunities could contribute to reducing safety issues and promote consistency across the rail network.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2213-624X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101006
ID  - ref1
ER  -