Road hazards
Railroad crossing and Metrolink crashes in Riverside County
California requires drivers and pedestrians to stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail when signals, a flagger or an approaching train warn of a train, and never to go around or under a closed gate (Vehicle Code § 22451). The CPUC has exclusive jurisdiction over California rail crossings.
The crossing rules for drivers and pedestrians
The stop rule in Vehicle Code § 22451 applies to drivers and pedestrians alike. Buses carrying passengers, school buses and many hazardous-materials vehicles must stop at every crossing, between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail, and look and listen before crossing (Vehicle Code § 22452), so expect them to stop ahead of you.
The DMV's handbook adds practical rules:
- The speed limit is 15 mph within 100 feet of a railroad crossing where you cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions, unless the crossing has gates, a warning signal or a flagman. [source]
- Flashing red lights at a crossing mean stop and wait until they stop flashing, even if the gate rises. [source]
- Never stop on the tracks; do not start across unless there is room to clear them completely. [source]
- If the gates are down and no train is coming, call the posted railroad emergency number or 911. [source]
If your vehicle stalls on the tracks
- If your vehicle stalls on the tracks with a train coming, get out immediately, run away from the tracks diagonally toward the direction the train is coming from, then call 911. [source]
- If no train is coming, get out and call the number posted on the crossing post or control box, give the crossing number, then call 911. [source]
Metrolink in Riverside County
RCTC owns and operates all nine Metrolink stations that serve Riverside County; all are staffed with 24-hour security guards. [source] Three Metrolink lines serve Riverside County: the Riverside Line, the Inland Empire-Orange County Line and the 91 Line/Perris Valley Line. [source]
| Station, address and Metrolink lines |
|---|
| Corona - North Main: 250 E. Blaine Street, Corona. Lines: IEOC, 91/PV. [source] |
| Corona - West Corona: 155 S. Auto Center Dr, Corona. Lines: IEOC, 91/PV. [source] |
| Jurupa Valley / Pedley: 6001 Pedley Road, Jurupa Valley. Lines: Riverside, 91/PV. [source] |
| Moreno Valley / March Field: 14160 Meridian Parkway, Riverside. Line: 91/PV. [source] |
| Riverside - Downtown: 4066 Vine Street, Riverside. Lines: Riverside, IEOC, 91/PV; also Amtrak Southwest Chief. [source] |
| Riverside - Hunter Park: 1101 Marlborough Avenue, Riverside. Line: 91/PV. [source] |
| Riverside - La Sierra: 10901 Indiana Ave, Riverside. Lines: IEOC, 91/PV. [source] |
| Perris - Downtown: 121 South C Street, Perris. Line: 91/PV. [source] |
| Perris - South: 1304 Case Road, Perris. Line: 91/PV. [source] |
Questions about RCTC rail facilities: 951.787.7141 or info@rctc.org. [source]
Who oversees crossings
The CPUC has exclusive jurisdiction over rail crossings in California. [source] CPUC rail crossing engineers review a crossing's configuration after train-related incidents and review complaints about crossing safety or conditions. [source] A CPUC review of a crossing's design after a crash can be important evidence.
Fault and claims after a crossing crash
Crossing crashes can involve several parties: the driver, the railroad that operates the train, the owner of the track and signals, and the city, County or State that controls the road approach. A crossing whose signals, sight lines or road design are unsafe may be a dangerous condition of public property (Gov. Code § 835).
Metrolink and RCTC are public agencies, so injury claims against them are usually subject to the Government Claims Act: a written claim is generally due within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2). Our page on claims against transit agencies collects the filing details we could confirm. Passengers hurt on a train or at a station platform may also have claims, including for station conditions.
Evidence
- The crossing number posted at the crossing, and photos of the signals, gates, signs and sight lines
- Whether the lights and gates were working, from witnesses and any video
- The train's event recorder and forward-facing video, which the railroad controls; ask early for them to be preserved
- The police or CHP report (see our crash report guide)
Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.
Common questions
The gates were down but no train came. Can I go around them?
No. California prohibits going through, around or under a closed crossing gate (Vehicle Code § 22451). The DMV says to call the posted railroad emergency number or 911.
How long do I have to file a claim against Metrolink or RCTC?
Claims against public entities for injury are generally due within six months of the incident (Gov. Code § 911.2). Do not wait for the railroad's investigation to finish.
Who investigates a crossing after a crash?
Law enforcement investigates the crash itself. The CPUC's rail crossing engineers review a crossing's configuration after train-related incidents and review complaints about crossing safety.
Related pages
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