Oh! Say, Can You Hear that Train Coming to the Crossing?

Abstract

How effective is the horn on trains in alerting motorists, cyclists and pedestrians of the approach of a train to a highway-railroad crossing? Road users become aware of trains approaching crossings either by seeing them, hearing the warning horn or by warning devices at the crossing. Auditory warnings have some advantages over others, but practical problems of sound transmission and the noise environment of road users limit their effectiveness. Factors that affect the audibility of train horns and crossing bells are discussed. Train and crossing bells are generally effective for persons in their immediate environment, but are relatively ineffective for occupants of closed vehicles. Because of the lack of reliability of the detectability of auditory warning signals provided to motorists and others approaching rail-highway crossings, they should visually scan the tracks to ascertain the presence of a train.