Northern Railway Runs 'Caution, Crossing!' Safety Campaign

The Northern Railway is running the «Caution, Crossing!» campaign. Railway workers are holding talks with motorists, distributing safety leaflets, and selectively reviewing dashcam footage from crossings. Joint raids with traffic police and commission inspections of crossing technical conditions will also be organized. The campaign will last until February 27.

In total, 16 accidents were recorded on the Northern Railway in 2025 and January 2026. Three road accidents occurred in the Yaroslavl region.

For example, on March 15, at the Vaulovo–Chebakov section, at a regulated railroad crossing with functioning signals, a truck collided with a railbus traveling on the Yaroslavl-Glavny–Rybinsk route, carrying 47 passengers. As a result, three people were injured. The cause of the accident was the inattentiveness of the truck driver. A criminal case has been initiated by the Yaroslavl Transport Investigation Department of the Western Interregional Transport Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

In total, eight drivers were held accountable for accidents at Northern Railway crossings in 2025, one of them from the Yaroslavl region. Under the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, offending drivers were fined from 5,000 to 50,800 rubles (approximately $55 to $560 at current rates). The total fines for those at fault last year amounted to 139,300 rubles (about $1,500). Three drivers had their licenses revoked for periods from 15 to 18 months. Administrative investigations are ongoing for two others.

The damage caused to divisions of JSC Russian Railways (RZD) on the Northern Railway section amounted to 47.8 million rubles (approximately $525,000 at current rates).

On June 11, at the railroad crossing at Prechistoye station in the Yaroslavl region, a truck collided with a freight train consisting of 40 cars. The driver and the locomotive crew were not injured. JSC Russian Railways (RZD) suffered damage of 20,000 rubles (about $220). The at-fault driver was fined 5,000 rubles (approximately $55).

The main cause of accidents at crossings is violation of traffic rules, when motorists attempt to cross a railroad crossing despite prohibiting signals and ignoring road sign requirements.

The Northern Railway urges strict compliance with traffic rules when crossing railroad tracks. Violations are not only dangerous for the driver«s health and life but also pose a threat to passengers and locomotive crews. It is important to remember that railway transport has the right of way over other forms of ground transportation.