Once again things went wrong at the infamous double railway crossing on Tongersestraat in Boxtel. On Monday evening, a stationary car was hit by a train on the track. No one was injured, but train traffic between Den Bosch and Boxtel was halted for hours. It was not the first time, and according to ProRail the level crossing is increasingly under pressure, but the situation is still manageable.
A spokesperson for ProRail tells Omroep Brabant that an investigation is conducted after every incident. “We evaluate and take measures where necessary.”
Since January 2022, things have gone wrong fourteen times, including five times this year. This concerns near collisions or real collisions, such as Monday evening.
Measures after investigations
According to ProRail, a lot has already been done to improve safety in recent years. “We have shortened the closure times of the railway barriers, so that they are closed for less time. This helps to prevent dangerous behavior, such as slaloming between the trees,” the spokesperson explains.
The markings were also improved and the installation received LED lighting for better visibility. In addition, ProRail has approached suppliers of navigation systems to adjust the map information. Many accidents seem to be the result of incorrect navigation.
Yet the level crossing remains a problem spot. “The current traffic situation is increasingly under pressure, but is still manageable. Due to the growth of train traffic and new spatial developments, it is necessary to renovate the level crossing in the long term,” says the spokesperson.
No tunnel for the time being
There has been talk for years about replacing the level crossing with a tunnel for slow traffic. These plans are laid down in an administrative agreement within the High-Frequency Rail Program. But the implementation is delayed.
“Due to the nitrogen problem and the lack of an environmental permit from the province, the tunnel cannot be constructed for the time being. We are in discussions with the municipality, the province and the national government about temporary measures.”
Infamous transition
The double railway crossing on Tongersestraat has been infamous for years. In 2023, things went wrong twice within a month: in November and December, trains collided with cars that ended up on the track after a navigation error. Even then, miraculously, there was no material damage.
The problem has been going on for much longer. Similar accidents happened in 2017, 2015 and even 2008. Things usually went wrong because motorists turned too early and ended up on the track between the two level crossings.
Local residents have been calling for action for years. The plans for a tunnel have been in existence since 2013, when residents were allowed to think about fourteen possible solutions. But due to a lack of money, permits and regulations, good intentions remained limited.
The municipality of Boxtel reports that there will be no new measures in the short term. The larger plans, such as the construction of an underpass and the closure of the double level crossing, have been put on hold for the time being due to ongoing procedures at the Council of State and the lack of a nitrogen permit.