What is the rule in ontario, canada (e.g. Guelph) when driving in highways with train tracks?

Question

I'm close to taking my G exam here in Guelph. I want to know what is the rule when crossing train tracks. Do I have to just slow down and check when crossing a train track? What if the train track is on the highway?

Answer 1

When driving within city limits, look for the flashing signals and gates which may be at the railroad crossing. Look in your Driving Handbook for the minimum distance you may stop if they are flashing, If they aren't flashing, then as you approach, cover your brake, scan both ways just before crossing the track, and then continue.if all is clear.

Where I live, a driver must stop if there is a train within 500 meters of the crossing, but the lights should begin to flash and the gates should come down before the train arrives, so check your book to see the required distance.

When travelling outside the city, on rural highways, always scan both ways, several times,  as you are approaching the track and then continue at the posted highway speed if there are no lights flashing,  or no gates down. If your vision is obscured, then come off the accelerator just as you approach the tracks .

Remember too, that you must wait until the flashing lights have gone off before you can continue. Just because the gates go up, doesn't mean they won't come right back down again, and if those lights are still flashing, another train may be approaching!

If there is only a crossbuck (a white "x" ) and no lights or gates, then you should slow down and look both ways before continuing..Sometimes your vision is obscured by trees, buildings or bushes, so scan several times. If it's foggy, slow right down, turn off your radio, roll down your windows a bit and listen for a train's horn!

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity, so I wish you Good Luck!

Answer 2

Use this site it is very helpful.........

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/

Answer 3

Here's the thing.  A lot of crossings don't have flashers, just a sign.  You really need to look both ways, a lot, and if the visibility lines are bad, you also need to slow down or even stop until you can see for double darn sure that there is no train.  Keeping in mind trains go as fast as 110mph (~180kph) in Canada.  

You should do that at automatic crossings too just in case the automatic system is messed up.

If the train track is on the highway, like running in a lane of traffic, most likely the railroad has rules that keep the speed below 30mph/50kph. Still, stay out of its way, it can't stop and obviously it can't swerve, and it sticks out a lot more than you think from the rails.   If it's streetcar track in a city (that would be Toronto), then you also have to contend with passengers in the street boarding or coming off a streetcar, so never charge up to a stopped streetcar and try to pass it, lest a passenger disembark onto the hood of your car!