Many of Ontario’s largest plants, terminals and distribution centres are served by rail. Somewhere on those sites, a spur track crosses a road used by trucks, forklifts, contractors and people on foot. These private crossings rarely make the news, but they are where trains and site traffic meet.

The numbers are moving in the wrong direction. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada recorded 38 accidents at private and farm crossings in 2025, up from 35 in 2024 and above the 10-year average of 30, according to its 2025 rail statistical summary. Ontario accounted for 21 per cent of all crossing accidents in Canada that year, second only to Alberta.

The TSB also found that crossing accidents involving pedestrians made up only 7 per cent of crossing accidents in 2025, but accounted for 63 per cent of fatal crossing accidents.

Why Are In-Plant Crossings Different?

Public crossings often have gates, lights and bells. Private crossings inside an industrial site may have only signs, if anything. They are also busier with non-rail traffic than many public crossings: shift change, contractor arrivals and steady truck movements.

Rail movements on site are often slow and irregular. A switching crew may move cars once a day, or several times in an hour. People get used to the track being empty. Trucks may stop on the track while waiting to enter a dock. Snow and ice hide rails and markings. And during switching, crews on foot are exposed to traffic as well.

What Can Go Wrong at a Plant Crossing?

Common scenarios include:

• A truck or forklift crosses as a cut of cars is shoved toward it, with the crew at the far end.

• A vehicle stops on the track in a queue for the gate or dock.

• A pedestrian crosses between parked railcars.

• Railcars roll unexpectedly from a siding.

• Snowbanks or parked trailers block sightlines.

Each one involves a moment where someone did not see, or did not expect, rail movement.

The consequences extend beyond injuries. A collision at an in-plant crossing can damage railcars and trucks, spill product, shut down rail service to the site for days and trigger investigations by the railway, the Ministry of Labour and insurers. Even a minor collision can disrupt inbound materials and outbound shipments.

How Do Private Rail Crossing Cameras Improve Safety?

Private rail crossing cameras give both rail crews and site staff better awareness at these points.

Approach views for crews. Cameras covering each approach to a crossing, viewable from a tablet or in-cab display, help a crew confirm the crossing is clear before shoving cars through it. That matters most when the crew member protecting the move is far from the crossing.

Detection of vehicles on the track. Analytics can detect a vehicle stopped within a defined zone on the track and trigger a warning to the crew or a local alarm.

Warnings for people and drivers. Cameras can work with flashing signs or audible warnings that activate when rail movement is detected or scheduled, reminding people that the track is live.

Queue monitoring. Cameras show when trucks back up across a track, prompting changes to gate timing or staging areas.

Records for investigations. Footage of close calls helps rail operators and site managers understand what happened and agree on fixes, rather than relying on conflicting accounts.

How Should a Site Plan Coverage?

A practical approach for plants with rail service:

1. Map every crossing, including informal pedestrian crossings.

2. Count vehicle and pedestrian movements at shift change and peak hours.

3. Review sightlines in all seasons, including winter.

4. Place cameras on each approach and over the crossing itself.

5. Set analytics zones for vehicles stopped on the track.

6. Share live views with rail operators where agreements allow.

7. Review footage of close calls with the railway and the joint health and safety committee.

Integrate crossing cameras into the site’s main video system so security, logistics and safety teams use the same view.

How Does This Help Operations?

Clear crossings mean fewer delays for switching crews and trucks. Cameras help schedule rail movements around shift change, identify recurring bottlenecks and show whether queuing trucks are blocking track. They also help verify when railcars were placed or pulled, which can reduce disputes over demurrage and timing.

ForceVision designs camera systems for rail-served plants, terminals and distribution centres across Hamilton, Toronto, Brampton and the Golden Horseshoe. If you would like to review coverage of your on-site crossings, we can walk them with you and your rail partner.

The Takeaway

Walk every crossing on your site at shift change and watch who looks both ways. If you find blocked sightlines, queues on the track or informal footpaths, put private rail crossing cameras on your safety agenda, and share what you find with the railway that serves your site.

FAQ

Q: Are private crossing accidents increasing?
A: The TSB recorded 38 accidents at private and farm crossings in 2025, up from 35 in 2024 and above the 10-year average of 30.

Q: Can cameras detect a truck stopped on the track?
A: Yes. Analytics can flag a vehicle stopped in a defined zone on the track and alert crews or trigger a local alarm.

Q: Who should see the crossing camera feeds?
A: Site security, logistics and safety teams, and rail crews where agreements with the railway allow.

Q: Do crossing cameras help with operations?
A: Yes. They reduce delays, reveal queuing problems and help verify railcar placement times.