Part I—Preliminary
Citation and commencement1
These Regulations may be cited as the Private Crossings (Signs and Barriers) Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 1st August 1996.
Interpretation2
1
In these Regulations, where the context so admits, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them:—
“crossing” means a level crossing;
“crossing operator” means an operator of a railway or tramway that is crossed in any place by a relevant road or a private path;
“relevant road” means a private road that crosses, or a private road and a private path that cross, a railway or tramway;
“retroreflecting material” means material which reflects a ray of light back towards the source of that light;
“sign” includes a road marking and a light signal;
“the 1992 Act” means the Transport and Works Act 1992;
“the 1994 Regulations” means the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 19942.
2
Except where otherwise provided, any reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation or Schedule shall be construed as a reference to the regulation or Schedule bearing that number in these Regulations and any reference in these Regulations to a numbered diagram shall be construed as a reference to the diagram bearing that number in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.
Part II—General Provisions
Signs to be of the size, colour and type shown in diagrams3
Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, for the purposes of section 52 of the 1992 Act, a crossing operator may cause or permit the placement on or near the relevant road or private path of a sign of a size, colour and type described and shown—
a
in a diagram in Schedule 1; or
b
in a diagram in Schedule 3 to the 1994 Regulations; or
c
in one of the diagrams numbered 601.1, 602, 953.1 and 953.2, 963.3, 966, 971, 1001, 1002.1, 1003, 1003.2, 1004, 1004.1, 1005, 1005.1, 1008, 1008.1, 1010, 1012.1, 1013.1, 1014, 1022, 1023, 1026, 1045, 3000.3, 3000.4, 3000.5, 3000.6, 3013, 3013.1, 3013.2, 3013.3, 3013.4, 3013.5 and 3014 in Schedules 2, 5, 6 and 8 to the 1994 Regulations.
Part III—Signs shown in Schedule 1
Colours of backs of signs4
The back of any sign shown in a diagram in Schedule 1 and any post or other structure specially provided for mounting the sign shall be coloured black or grey.
Dimensions5
1
Any variation in a dimension specified in Schedule 1 shall be treated as permitted by these Regulations if the variation is not more than 5% more or less than the dimension specified.
2
In the diagrams in Schedule 1 the dimensions given are expressed in millimetres.
Permitted variants6
1
Where the circumstances so require the indication given by a sign shown in a diagram in Schedule 1 may be varied in the respect (if any) shown below the diagram relating to that sign.
2
Where a sign in a diagram in Schedule 1 contains an indication as to the penalty relating to a failure to obey the requirements on that sign, the indication of the penalty may be varied when necessary to accord with changes in the legislation governing the nature and level of penalty.
Illumination of signs7
1
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this regulation all parts other than the back of every sign shown in a diagram in Schedule 1 shall be illuminated by means of retroreflecting material.
2
No retroreflecting material shall be applied to—
a
any part of a sign coloured black; or
b
the red and green lights in the signs shown in diagrams 107 and 108 and prescribed in regulation 8.
3
Retroreflecting material need not be applied to a sign at a crossing which is not used by motor vehicles.
Miniature stop lights8
1
The signs shown in diagrams 107 and 108 shall contain red and green lamps which are internally illuminated by a steady light in such a manner that—
a
when one light is illuminated the other is not illuminated;
b
the green lamp is and remains illuminated for so long as no railway or tramway vehicle is approaching the vicinity of the crossing from either direction; and
c
the red lamp is and remains illuminated for so long as the green lamp is not illuminated.
2
The lenses of the lamps shall be—
a
circular and not less than 60 millimetres in diameter;
or
b
rectangular with each side measuring not less than 60 millimetres;
and the distance between the edges of the lenses of the green lamp and the red lamp shall be not less than 40 millimetres.
2
The information, warnings, requirements and prohibitions conveyed by the lamps described in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be as follows—
a
the red lamp when illuminated shall convey the warning that a railway or tramway vehicle is approaching the vicinity of the crossing and the prohibition that persons must not proceed across the crossing;
b
the green lamp when illuminated shall convey the information that no railway or tramway vehicle is approaching the vicinity of the crossing and persons may proceed across the crossing;
c
if neither the red nor green lamp is illuminated persons should either telephone the crossing operator or proceed across the crossing with caution after having ascertained that no railway or tramway vehicle is approaching the vicinity of the crossing in accordance with the instructions shown on the sign.
Part IV—Signs shown in the 1994 Regulations
Proportions and significance etc. of signs9
The provisions made by the 1994 Regulations in relation to the proportions, illumination and significance of, and requirements conveyed by, a sign shall have effect where the sign is placed under the authority of these Regulations, as if the relevant road or private path on or near to which it is placed were a road within the meaning of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 19843.
Part V—Barriers
Barriers to be of the character described in Schedule 2 or Schedule 310
For the purposes of section 52 of the 1992 Act, where a railway or tramway is crossed in any place by a relevant road, the operator of that railway or tramway may cause or permit a barrier to be placed on or near the relevant road near the crossing if it is, in the case of a gate, of the character described in Schedule 2, or, in the case of any other form of barrier, of the character described in Schedule 3.
Part VI—Signs relating to telephones
Placement of signs relating to telephones11
The authority which these Regulations give for the placement of signs relating to telephones at a crossing shall only apply where telephones are, or are to be, provided on both sides of the crossing and connected direct to the crossing operator.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport