Browsing by Author "Fernando, W. S. H. R"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Open Access
Characteristics of Railway-Roadway Level Crossings at Coastal Railway Line in Sri Lanka
(KDU IRC 2017, 2017) Amarasingha, N; Gunathilaka, O. H. D. C; Ragulan, K; Aravinda, M. P. N; Fernando, W. S. H. R
Rail transportation is a safe, efficient, continuously operating sustainable transportation mode, in all-weather conditions, and light conditions. Along with these advantages, the role of rail transport has become increasingly important. Therefore, it is important to investigate the characteristics of the railway-roadway level crossings in Sri Lanka. Railway-roadway level crossings at coastal railway line from Aluthgama to Ambalangoda were visited to collect the roadway, railway, traffic, environmental, and crash data. Out of 51 crossings that observed in this study, about 94.1% of railway-roadway level crossings were facilitated with active safety measures. About 7.0% of railway-roadway level crossings were without gates and among them 33.3% of crossings were facilitated with passive safety measures and other crossings were under unsafe conditions. Several problems related to railway-roadway level crossing were identified. The collected data could be utilized to develop various statistical models for identifying relationships between the number of crashes and level crossing characteristics. It could be used to identify potential highcrash prone railway-roadway crossings and key factors which increase the number of crashes.
Open Access
Linear Regression Models to Evaluate Characteristics of Railway-Roadway Level Crossings in a Developing Country
(International Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2018) Fernando, W. S. H. R; Amarasingha, N
Railway-roadway level crossings are dangerous crash prone locations and the safety at these locations is of utmost importance. The objective of this research was to analyze the contributing factors of railway-roadway level crossing crashes. Crash data at railway- roadway level crossings, level crossing characteristics and both railway and roadway characteristics were collected along the coastal line from Pettah to Aluthgama in Sri Lanka. Seventy-seven level crossings were identified along this railway route. The data were collected using field surveys and site visits. The Multiple linear regression analysis was used to compare how a considered set of independent variables affects the dependent variable which was the crash data. According to the multiple linear regression analysis, the distance to nearest curvature from Colombo direction and Galle direction and the available traffic control system at the level crossings were not significant predictors of the occurrence of crashes at level crossings. The sight distances from the seaside and the land-side were significant predictors of crash data according to the regression model results. The sight distance from the seaside had a higher impact than the sight distance from the land side according to the standardized coefficients obtained from the model. The dangerous and hazardous level crossings along the selected route were identified through the detailed analysis of the crash data. Enhancements that could improve the standards of Galvanized Iron (GI) gates were identified and increasing the GI gate operator’s salary was also proposed.