A railway road crossing warning system (10) including a railway road crossing control unit (18) that may be selectively set to a primary or a secondary mode of operation is provided. In the primary mode of operation, the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to a primary activation signal (21) received from a primary activation-signal source (22), such as a positive train control (PTC) system. In the event the primary activation signal from the primary activation-signal source is not available, railway road crossing control unit (18) is set to the secondary mode of operation, where the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to one or more signals (25) received from a secondary activation-signal source (26) including a railway-vehicle sensing system (28) electrically-decoupled from a railroad track (12). Disclosed embodiments maintain operational robustness in the presence of changing weather and avoid variable electrical ballast conditions that otherwise could develop across the rails, while providing a cost-effective and reliable backup capability for a PTC-started crossing system.

A railway road crossing warning system (10) including a railway road crossing control unit (18) that may be selectively set to a primary or a secondary mode of operation is provided. In the primary mode of operation, the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to a primary activation signal (21) received from a primary activation-signal source (22), such as a positive train control (PTC) system. In the event the primary activation signal from the primary activation-signal source is not available, railway road crossing control unit (18) is set to the secondary mode of operation, where the railway road crossing control unit is responsive to one or more signals (25) received from a secondary activation-signal source (26) including a railway-vehicle sensing system (28) electrically-decoupled from a railroad track (12). Disclosed embodiments maintain operational robustness in the presence of changing weather and avoid variable electrical ballast conditions that otherwise could develop across the rails, while providing a cost-effective and reliable backup capability for a PTC-started crossing system.

According the application of the invention when barriers are lowered, first are lowered barrier in front rails after, in adjustable time delay, that barrier behind rails, what allow to vehicles clear out rail area. Sensor advantageously senses area on rails and in case of any obstruction for railway train delays lowering of barriers or stops it till the time when obstruction leaves rails. In the same time it transmits alarm into dispatching of train transport and into coming railway train by means of wireless connection. It simultaneously activates alarm siren and advantageously voice announcement calling for releasing of rails.