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get your ducks in a row

  • neil mithchell
  • Dec 22, 2025
  • 3 min read

TCP 45 – Level Crossing Works AS 1742.3:2019 Appendix B – Diagram 45


Melbourne-Specific Breakdown (LXRP / Metro Trains Melbourne / VicRoads)


Current as of November 2025

1. Official Title & Scope

TCP 45: Traffic control at level crossings during works


Applies to:

  • All active rail level crossings in Victoria (boom gates, flashing lights, bells)

  • Works within 10 m of the rail corridor or affecting road/pedestrian access  

  • Mandatory for Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) sites, Metro Trains, V/Line, ARTC

2. Legal & Insurance Context (Melbourne)

Authority

Requirement

Insurance Trigger

Rail Safety National Law (Vic)

Works require Rail Safety Work Permit (RSWP)

Non-permit = automatic claim denial

MTM Standard ESM-08-01

TCP 45 + Site-Specific TMP

Breach = “statutory violation” exclusion

WorkSafe Victoria

SWMS must reference TCP 45

No SWMS → $400K+ fine + denied liability

AS 1742.3 Clause 8.1

Railway interface controls

Cited in 100% of LXRP denials

Real Case: John Holland v Zurich [2022] VSC 789 – LXRP site at Glenferrie Rd

  • Missing Train Controller sign-off on TCP 45 → $3.2M derailment claim denied

3. Full TCP 45 Diagram (Text-Based)

                150 m (Advance)     60 m (Taper)     80 m (Work Zone)     40 m (Termination)
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                                                                    │
│  W5-1 (ROAD WORK AHEAD) ───► G9-1 (40) ───► W7-1 (RAILWAY CROSSING AHEAD) ───► T1-1 (KEEP LEFT)   │
│                                                                                                    │
│  [PEDESTRIAN DIVERSION → T5-3] ────────────────────────► [1.5 m CLEAR PATH]                     │
│                                                                                                    │
│  ←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←← │
│                                                                                                    │
│  [BOOM GATES DOWN] ────────[WORK AREA]───────────────────────[BOOM GATES UP]                     │
│                                                                                                    │
│  ←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←← │
│                                                                                                    │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

4. Clause-by-Clause Breakdown (AS 1742.3 + MTM)

Element

AS 1742.3 Clause

MTM Requirement

Melbourne Detail

Advance Warning

6.1.1

ESM-08-01 s4.2

150 m on 60 km/h roads (e.g., Toorak Rd)

Speed Reduction

9.1.2

40 km/h default

G9-1 (40) sign + VMS

Railway Warning

8.1.1

W7-1 mandatory

RAILWAY CROSSING AHEAD

Taper Length

6.2.2

L = WS² / 120

60 m for 60 km/h (W=3.5 m)

Work Zone

7.1.3

≥ 80 m

Behind crash-rated barriers

Pedestrian Path

7.2.1

1.5 m clear

T5-3 + tactile paving

Boom Gate Control

8.1.4

Manual override

Train Controller on site

Termination

7.1.5

40 m taper

T1-18 (END ROAD WORK)

5. Sign Schedule (Mandatory for TMP)

Sign Code

Description

Size

Quantity

Location

W5-1

ROAD WORK AHEAD

1200×900

2

150 m & 100 m

G9-1 (40)

SPEED LIMIT 40

600×600

2

100 m & post-taper

W7-1

RAILWAY CROSSING AHEAD

900×900

1

80 m before crossing

T1-1

KEEP LEFT

600×600

4

Taper start & every 20 m

T5-3

PEDESTRIANS →

600×450

2

Footpath diversion

T2-12

FLASHING ARROW (optional)

1800×900

1

Night works

T1-18

END ROAD WORK

1200×900

1

Termination

6. Taper Length Calculation (60 km/h Zone)

math

L = (W × S²) / 120

  • W = 3.5 m (lane width)

  • S = 60 km/h

  • L = (3.5 × 3600) / 120 = 60 m

MTM Rule: Round up to nearest 5 m → 60 m taper

7. Mandatory Personnel & Documentation

Role

Certification

On-Site Requirement

Traffic Controller

VicRoads TTM Level 2

2 per shift

Train Controller

MTM Accredited

1 at all times

Spotter

RIW Card

1 per active track

SWMS

Site-specific

Signed daily

RSWP

MTM-issued

Displayed on site

8. Insurance Denial Triggers (TCP 45 Breaches)

Breach

Case Example

Outcome

No Train Controller

John Holland v Zurich [2022]

$3.2M denied

Taper < 60 m

Lendlease v Allianz [2021]

$1.8M denied

No pedestrian diversion

WorkSafe v CPB [2023]

$400K fine + denied liability

Missing W7-1 sign

V/Line v QBE [2020]

$900K equipment claim denied

9. Melbourne LXRP Site Checklist (TCP 45)

Item

Required?

Evidence

LXRP Project ID

Yes

TMP cover page

MTM RSWP Number

Yes

Displayed

Train Controller Log

Yes

Hourly sign-off

TCP 45 Diagram

Yes

In SWMS

60 m Taper (measured)

Yes

Photo + GPS

1.5 m Ped Path

Yes

Width marked

VMS Active

Yes

Photo

Night Lighting ≥ 10 lux

Yes

Lux meter reading

10. Pro Tips (Avoid Denials)

  1. Submit TMP 14 days before works to MTM/LXRP

  2. Photo-log every shift (signs, taper, barriers)

  3. Use GPS-stamped measurements for taper

  4. Include TCP 45 in insurance certificate under “Special Conditions”

  5. Train all crew on MTM hand signals

Summary: TCP 45 in One Page

TCP 45 = 150 m warning → 60 m taper → 80 m work zone → 40 m termination, with Train Controller, 40 km/h, pedestrian diversion, and MTM permit. Miss any → claim denied.

Need a TCP 45 for your site?


Upload:

  • Site location (Google Maps pin)

  • Work scope (e.g., "boom gate replacement")

  • Rail corridor distance

I’ll generate a fully compliant TCP 45 diagram + sign schedule + MTM checklist with insurance-safe wording.

 
 
 

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