This image provided by the Korea Railroad Corp. shows a foldable level crossing barrier.
DAEJEON, April 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), South Korea’s state-run rail operator, said Tuesday it is developing a foldable level crossing barrier to prevent accidents at railway crossings.
The device operates by unfolding a barrier arm when a train passes through.
Compared to the existing method of moving the entire barrier at once, this device can operate over a long distance with less energy.
As a result, a single barrier can block both the pedestrian walkway and the road simultaneously.
The foldable barrier remains folded before a train approaches, which can prevent accidents arising from contact between the high-voltage rail track and the barrier that may occur during car accidents.
KORAIL plans to enhance the visibility of the barrier arm by changing its shape to a wide rectangle.
Additionally, it plans to conduct tests, such as coordinating with other safety equipment at railway crossings and installing the device on-site, before introducing the new barrier next year.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
