The region has just over 1,500 level crossings, out of 15,405 throughout France. Among them, 21 are registered with the “National security program” (out of 153 in France). In other words, they are considered dangerous by the Ministry of Transport and Ecological Transition.
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The Auvergne Rhône Alpes region still has 21 very sensitive level crossings known by the State and the SNCF for their potential dangerousness.
Despite preventive actions, deaths are regular: in our region, we already deplore 4 deaths since the start of 2021 (2 in 2020 and 4 in 2019). In 2018, it was recorded that an accident occurs every 3 days in France at a level crossing. Which produces around 100 collisions per year.
Friday October 9, 2020. Fatal accident in Bourg-en-Bresse. A TER crashes into a car (Citroën C5) on a level crossing avenue Amédée-Mercier in Bourg-en-Bresse. Two deaths.
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© PHOTOPQR / LE PROGRES / MAXPPP
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Here is the list of these dangerous points, by department:
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Ain (01) Tossiat (Mâcon-Ambérieu line), Saint-Martin-du-Mont (Mâcon-Ambérieu line), Saint-Denis-en-Bugey (Lyon-Geneva line), Balan (Lyon-Geneva line)
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Allier (03) Creuzier-le-Vieux (Saint-Germain-des-Fossès-Darsac line), Montluçon (Bourges-Miécaze line)
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Ardèche (07) Limony and Meysse (Givors-Grézan)
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Isère (38): Villard-Bonnot (Grenoble-Montmélian line), Fontanil-Cornillon (Lyon-Marseille line via Grenoble)
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Rhône (69) Civrieux-d’Azergues (Le Coteau-Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d’Or line), Saint-Romain-en-Gier (Moret-Lyon line), Condrieu (Givors-Grézan line)
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Savoie (73): Chambéry, Cognin, Saint-Cassin, Domessin (Saint-André-le-Gaz-Chambéry line), Viviers-du-Lac (Culoz-Modane line), Aix-les-Bains (Culoz-Modane line and Aix-les-Bains-Annemasse line)
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Haute-Savoie (74): Reignier-Esery and Etrembieres (Aix-les-Bains-Annemasse line)
April 10, 2013 The court moved to the scene of the tragedy at the request of a lawyer for the civil parties. On June 2, 2008, a TER crashed into a school bus at the Mésinges level crossing in Allinges (Haute-Savoie), costing the lives of seven students. On the bench of the defendants, the driver of the coach Jean-Jacques Prost will be seated alongside the SNCF and RFF. All three are being prosecuted for manslaughter and unintentional injury.
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© PHOTOPQR / LE DAUPHINE
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Work … very expensive
Since 2015, 32 level crossings have been removed, according to SNCF. Others are in the process of deleting it. It must be said that it is expensive: between 10 and 20 million euros. In most cases, the only solution is to build a bridge to pass trains over or under the road.
The journalists of the program “Special Envoy” calculated that securing all dangerous passages in France could cost between 200 and 800 million euros!
The 15,405 level crossings in France are still in operation. Barriers open and close in France… approximately 450,000 times a day! which adds to the potential danger.
A TGV needs 3.2 kilometers to stop
According to the SNCF, 98% of accidents are due to inappropriate behavior of road users. In this regard, it should be remembered that a train does not stop easily. It’s the least we can say.
Some examples: a train launched at 100 km / h takes 1000 meters to stop, where a car takes 80 meters. More impressive: a TGV launched at 300 km / h, either its cruising speed – will need 3.2 km to stop, or… 32 football pitches! Everything is linked to its speed, its weight, and its grip on the ground …
As for the driver, he can only spot an obstacle, at best, at a maximum of one kilometer, not to mention his reaction time.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Gendarmerie Region has signed an agreement with the SNCF to carry out regular checks on the lines where incivility is constantly reported. The objective is simple: to reassure the users and SNCF staff who regularly use these lines.
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© PHOTOPQR / LE PROGRES / MAXPPP
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To try to fight against these dangerous behaviors, the SNCF in particular raises awareness in schools. 20,000 students are informed each year.
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