Southern California regional passenger rail provider Metrolink has implemented smart technology to improve safety at a railway level crossing in Orange County.

The WCNSS wireless crossing nearside station stop system is at the Del Obispo Street crossing near the San Juan Capistrano Station in Orange County.

Made possible by grant funding from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (Crisi) programme (railroads.dot.gov/newsroom/press-releases/fra-awards-more-200-million-ptc-implementation), this technology, which went live this month, can create a better experience for drivers and pedestrians while increasing safety for Metrolink passengers and the San Juan Capistrano community.

Specifically, the WCNSS will eliminate the ghost train phenomenon that has plagued San Juan Capistrano residents. Previously, on approach to the San Juan Capistrano Station, trains would trigger the safety features at the downstream Del Obispo Street crossing. While the train was stopped at the station, the gate arms would recover – creating a ghost train effect – before the safety mechanism was once again triggered as the train left the station.

“Installing WCNSS at railway crossings near stations is a crucial step forward that underscores Metrolink’s commitment to enhancing the safety and efficiency of our infrastructure,” said Metrolink vice chair Doug Chaffee. “Not only will this innovative technology alleviate frustration and improve the safety of San Juan Capistrano residents, it will also benefit communities across Metrolink’s system as it becomes more prevalent.”

Upgrading crossings with the WCNSS reduces traffic congestion and prioritises safety by reducing wait times and deterring dangerous behaviour such as drivers and pedestrians bypassing activated crossing gates. Metrolink continues to pursue technologies to improve system performance and provide seamless and safe commuting experiences for passengers and the communities throughout southern California in which Metrolink trains operate.

Initially, the WCNSS at the Del Obispo Street crossing will prevent southbound Metrolink trains scheduled to stop at the San Juan Capistrano Station from activating the crossing’s safety features until it has left the station. WCNSS technology is not yet available for other passenger train services operating on Metrolink’s rail lines, though plans to expand to Amtrak Pacific Surfliner are ongoing. Freight traffic will not be affected, as freight trains do not stop at the station.

Earlier this year, late senator Dianne Feinstein and senator Alex Padilla jointly secured $1.6m in FY24 appropriations funding for Metrolink to support the installation of smart crossing technology at additional rail crossings. Metrolink continues to collaborate with local, state and federal partners with the long-term goal of implementing WCNSS at 52 crossings within 0.8km of Metrolink stations.

The first WCNSS systems installed on Metrolink’s network were developed, certified and deployed for the Arrow service at seven crossings in the cities of San Bernardino and Redlands. Metrolink has been operating WCNSS technology since October 2022, when the Arrow service launched.

The Metrolink (metrolinktrains.com) regional passenger rail service works on an interconnected six-county network with 67 stations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties. Metrolink also operates the Arrow service, an extension of the San Bernardino County Line linking the cities of San Bernardino and Redlands.