The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said its investigation into the tragedy at Halkirk, near Wick, would also examine wider safety questions over automatic crossings that have sirens and lights but no barriers.
Open crossings, which are typically used on quieter railway lines, make up 2% of the total crossings owned by Network Rail but accounted for nearly one-third of accidents over the last decade, the RAIB said.
Angus MacKay and his wife Margaret, both 81 and from Inverness, died alongside Mr MacKay’s brother, Donald, 66, from Latheron in Caithness, when a train collided with their car at the Halkirk crossing last Tuesday. They are due to be buried today in a private funeral in Wick.
An initial examination by the RAIB concluded that the warning lights at the crossing operated as designed, the train was driven correctly and there was no evidence of problems with the track, signalling system or signage.
A separate investigation by the RAIB into a fatal accident in Flookburgh in Cumbria last November, the results of which were published yesterday, concluded that Network Rail had not upgraded a crossing to comply with industry standards.
Jonathan Crabtree, 41, was fatally injured when the 9.27am Carlisle to Lancaster service struck his car at the Wraysholme crossing.
The RAIB investigation concluded that Mr Crabtree may not have seen or understood the warning lights.
It called on Network Rail to identify crossings where lights may be obscured by sunlight and draw up a programme to improve safety at them, as well as ensuring that crossings are upgraded when appropriate.
There are 23 unmanned, open level crossings in Scotland and last week’s tragedy at Halkirk is the first time since 2007 that a driver has been killed at one of them.
A spokesman for Network Rail said it would “co-operate fully” with the RAIB investigation and pay close attention to its conclusions.
He said: “We continue to remind drivers using road-rail level crossings that they are safe when used correctly. Drivers should always obey the Highway Code and stop when flashing red lights are visible.”
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