Railway crossing ahead sign
What the Railway crossing ahead sign means: A railway crossing is ahead, so slow down, look both ways and be ready to stop for a train.
- Group
- Warning signs
- Does this group carry the law
- Not enforceable on its own. It changes nothing about right of way.
- In the sign deck
- 3 questions ask about this sign
What to do when you see it
- Slow down and be ready to stop before the crossing.
- Look both ways along the track, because a second train can follow the first.
- Never queue onto the crossing: wait until there is room on the far side before you start over.
- Obey the stop or give way sign at the crossing itself, and any flashing lights or boom gates, whether or not you can see a train.
Where you see it
On the approach to level crossings, in rural areas and outer suburbs, and near stations and freight lines.
Across the states and territories
The warning is national. What sits at the crossing itself is not: some crossings have boom gates and flashing lights, many rural crossings have only a stop or give way sign, and passive crossings are more common in the freight regions of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia than in the capital cities.
Tell it apart from these
- Railway crossing aheadthis pageStop ahead
Many level crossings are controlled by a stop sign, so the two warnings can appear on the same approach and mean different things.
Stop ahead: There is a stop sign just ahead, so slow down and prepare to stop completely.
- Railway crossing aheadthis pageHump
Some crossings are raised enough to jolt a low car, and both signs may appear together, but the train is the reason for the crossing sign.
Hump: There is a raised hump across the road ahead, so slow right down before you reach it.
How the knowledge tests use it
The queuing rule is the question: do not enter a crossing until you are certain you can clear it.
What does this sign mean?
The train symbol in a yellow diamond warns that the road and the railway cross at the same level. There may be lights, boom gates or nothing but a give way or stop sign.
State and territory driver handbooks, level crossings
Common questions
- What does the Railway crossing ahead sign mean?
- A railway crossing is ahead, so slow down, look both ways and be ready to stop for a train.
- What should you do when you see a Railway crossing ahead sign?
- Slow down and be ready to stop before the crossing. Look both ways along the track, because a second train can follow the first. Never queue onto the crossing: wait until there is room on the far side before you start over. Obey the stop or give way sign at the crossing itself, and any flashing lights or boom gates, whether or not you can see a train.
- Where is the Railway crossing ahead sign used?
- On the approach to level crossings, in rural areas and outer suburbs, and near stations and freight lines.
- What is the Railway crossing ahead sign confused with?
- Stop ahead: Many level crossings are controlled by a stop sign, so the two warnings can appear on the same approach and mean different things. Hump: Some crossings are raised enough to jolt a low car, and both signs may appear together, but the train is the reason for the crossing sign.
- How do the knowledge tests ask about the Railway crossing ahead sign?
- The queuing rule is the question: do not enter a crossing until you are certain you can clear it.
Try it in a question
Original practice questions, not the official bank. How we write and check them.
More warning signs
Yellow diamond with a black symbol.