Level crossing

A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level,^[1] as opposed to the railway line crossing over or under using an overpass or tunnel. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion. Other names include railway level crossing,^[1] railway crossing (chiefly international), grade crossing or railroad crossing (chiefly American),^[2] road through railroad, criss-cross, train crossing, and RXR (abbreviated).

There are more than 100,000 level crossings in Europe and more than 200,000 in North America.

Road-grade crossings are considered incompatible with high-speed rail^[3] and are virtually non-existent in European high-speed train operations.^[4]

• 
  A level crossing at Hoylake, Merseyside, England, with a train passing
• An active level crossing in Japan, 2022, train approaching from left
• 
  A railroad crossing in Abington, Massachusetts, US
• 
  A CRH380A train passing Shoupakou level crossing at Beijing, China