Railway crossingWallonia
Traffic rules
Wallonia
26. Railway crossing
A railway crossing, also called a level crossing or railroad crossing, is a place where a road or path crosses railway tracks at the same level. It may be protected by barriers, warning lights, bells, traffic signs or a combination of these measures.
Road users must approach carefully and never enter when a train is approaching, warning signals are active or the exit is blocked. They should cross promptly and must never stop, wait or become trapped on the tracks.
Wikimedia.org • Marc Ryckaert • CC BY-SA
Which Belgian traffic signs are used at a railway crossing?
Belgian railway crossings can be indicated by several traffic signs depending on the type of crossing. Warning sign A41 warns of a railway crossing with barriers or half-barriers, while warning sign A43 warns of a railway crossing without barriers. At the crossing itself, traffic signs A45 and A47 indicate a railway crossing with one or more tracks.
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code, Articles 20, 66
Warning for a railway crossing with barriers.
English • Traffic sign A41 • Level crossing with barriers.
Français • Signal routier A41 • Passage à niveau avec barrières.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A41 • Overweg met slagbomen.
Sources
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org
Vascer • Public domain. Original SVG unmodified.
🔗 Wegcode.be • Artikel 66. Gevaarsborden (NL)
🔗 Codedelaroute.be • Article 66. Signaux de danger (FR)
Warning for a railway crossing without barriers.
English • Traffic sign A43 • Level crossing without barriers.
Français • Signal routier A43 • Passage à niveau sans barrières.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A43 • Overweg zonder slagbomen.
Sources
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org
Vascer • Public domain. Original SVG unmodified.
🔗 Wegcode.be • Artikel 66. Gevaarsborden (NL)
🔗 Codedelaroute.be • Article 66. Signaux de danger (FR)
Warning for a railway crossing with one track.
English • Traffic sign A45 • Single-track level crossing.
Français • Signal routier A45 • Passage à niveau à voie unique.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A45 • Overweg voor enkel spoor.
Warning for a railway crossing with two or more tracks.
English • Traffic sign A47 • Level crossing with two or more tracks.
Français • Signal routier A47 • Passage à niveau à deux ou plusieurs voies.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A47 • Overweg voor twee of meer sporen.
How must you approach a Belgian railway crossing?
Every road user must approach with extra caution and take all necessary measures to avoid an accident.
Where must you stop for the red lights?
Stop before the stop line. When no stop line is present, stop before the railway-crossing signal without entering the tracks.
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code, articles 12, 17, 20, 40, 64, 66, 71 and 76
May you enter when traffic is queued beyond the tracks?
No. A driver may not enter when traffic is so obstructed that the vehicle would probably have to stop on the railway crossing.
Do the Belgian railway-crossing rules apply to cyclists and pedestrians?
Yes. The red lights, barriers and audible signals apply to every road user, including pedestrians and cyclists.
What should you do if your vehicle becomes stuck on a Belgian railway crossing?
Leave the vehicle and railway tracks immediately, move everyone to safety and call Infrabel on 1711 so railway traffic can be stopped. You may also call the emergency services on 112.
🔗 infrabel.be • Infrabel, railway danger reporting via 1711; 🔗 infrabel.be • Infrabel, level-crossing emergency numbers and location stickers
