System and method for controlling a level crossing

A system for controlling a level crossing between a railway track and a road, the system comprising:

• at least one first couple of transmitter devices and at least one second couple of transmitter devices located in proximity of a level crossing area on a first side of the railway track;
• at least one first couple of receiver devices and at least one second couple of receiver devices located in proximity of the level crossing area on a second side of the railway track opposite to the first side where the transmitter devices are located,
• the first couple of transmitter devices and receiver devices being located on a first side of the road and the second couple of transmitter devices and receiver devices being located on a second side of the road opposite to the first side where the first couples of transmitter devices and receiver devices are located, and
• a control unit arranged to send and receive signals from said couples of transmitter device and receiver devices so as to detect the presence of a train in correspondence of the level crossing area,
• wherein
• each couple of transmitter devices is arranged to transmit towards the couples of receiver devices a first beam going from a first transmitter device towards a corresponding first receiver device of the couple of receiver devices located on the same side of the road where the couple of transmitter devices is located, and a second beam going respectively from a second transmitter device towards an opposite second receiver device of the couple of receiver devices located on the side of the road opposite to the side where the couple of transmitter devices is located, and
• the control unit is arranged to activate the sending of at least one second beam and to send a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing upon interruption of at least one first beam due to the presence of the train on the railway track,
• wherein for each couple of transmitter devices:
• the control unit is arranged to send to the first transmitter device a first activation signal so that said first transmitter device start sending the first beam;
• the associated first receiver device is arranged to send to the control unit a first alarm signal upon interruption of the corresponding first beam, so that the control unit sends to at least one second transmitter device a second activation signal and sends a warning message and/or closes bars of the level crossing;
• the second transmitter device is arranged to send the second beam towards the associated second receiver device upon reception of said second activation signal;
• the second receiver device is arranged to send to the control unit a second alarm signal upon interruption of the corresponding second beam, so that the control unit is informed of a further approach of the train into the level crossing area.