Level Crossings Act 1983

1 Safety arrangements at level crossings. E+W+S

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Secretary of State may, in relation to any place where a railway crosses a road on a level (in this section referred to as a “level crossing”), by order provide for the protection of those using the level crossing.

(2) An order under this section may make such provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient for the safety or convenience of those using the crossing; and, in particular—

(a) may require any such barriers or other protective equipment as may

be specified in the order to be provided at or near the crossing, and to be maintained and operated, in accordance with the order; and

(b) may impose requirements as to the operation of the railway at or near

that crossing.

(3) While an order is in force under this section in relation to a level crossing—

(a) it shall be the duty of the operator of the crossing to ensure that the

order is complied with; and

(b) subject to any exceptions specified in the order, any provision made by or under any enactment as to the crossing (or level crossings including that crossing) and imposing requirements as to barriers or other protective equipment at or near the crossing, the supervision of the crossing (including the provision of buildings for the purposes of supervision) or the operation of the railway at or near the crossing shall not apply in relation to the crossing.

(4) Nothing in subsection (3)(b) above affects any provision as to traffic signs made under the M1 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967; but a traffic sign placed on or near a road in pursuance of an order under this section shall be treated for the purposes of section 54(4) of that Act as having been placed as provided by that Act.

(5) An order under this section—

(a) may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order under this section; and

(b) may include requirements as to equipment provided before the making of the order.

(6) The Secretary of State may not make an order under this section in respect of a level crossing (other than an order revoking a previous order) unless requested to do so by the operator of the crossing.

(7) A request under subsection (6) above must be accompanied by a draft of the order which the operator desires the Secretary of State to make.

(8) Before making such a request, the operator must give written notice of his intention to do so to each local authority in whose area the level crossing is situated; and the notice—

(a) must be accompanied by a copy of the draft order which the operator

intends to submit to the Secretary of State; and

(b) must specify the period (not being less than two months) within

which the local authority may make representations to the Secretary of State in respect of the request.

(9) The Secretary of State must consider any representations in respect of the request made by such a local authority within the period specified in accordance with subsection (8)(b) above and may then, if he decides to make the order, make it in accordance with the draft submitted to him or with such modifications as he thinks fit.

(10) This section applies where a Government department is operating a railway at a level crossing as it applies in other cases.

(11) In this section—

• “barrier” includes gate;

• “local authority”, in relation to England F1 . . ., means any council of a county, district or London borough, . . . F2 and the Common Council of the City of London [F3 in relation to Wales, means any council of a county or county borough]and, in relation to Scotland, means any [F4 council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994];

• [F5 “operator”, in relation to a crossing, means any person carrying on an undertaking which includes maintaining the permanent way;]

• “protective equipment” includes lights, traffic signs and telephone and television equipment;

• [F6 “road” means any highway or other road to which the public has access;][F6 “road” has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984;] and

• “traffic sign” has the same meaning as in the M2 Road Traffic Regulation Act [F7 1984].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in definition of “local authority” in s. 1(11) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 22(1), 66(8), Sch. 7 Pt. I para. 31, Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, arts. 3, 4, Schs. 1, 2

F2 Words repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 102, Sch. 17

F3 Words in definition of “local authority” in s. 1(11) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(1), Sch. 7 Pt. I para. 31 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, arts. 3, 4, Schs. 1, 2

F4 Words in definition of “local authority” in s. 1(11) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 131; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(b)(c)

F5 Definition of"operator" in s. 1(11) substituted (31.1.1993) by Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42), s. 51; S.I. 1992/3144, art. 3, Sch.

F6 Definition of “road” commencing “has the same meaning” substituted (S.) for definition of “road” commencing “means any highway” by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 89

F7 “1984” substituted by Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27, SIF 107:1), s. 146, Sch. 13 para. 57

Marginal Citations

M1 1967 c. 76.

M2 1984 c. 16.