level crossing / railroad crossing
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level crossing
A place where a road or path crosses railway tracks at the same level. Such crossings are often secured with barriers or light signals.
Wegen eines herannahenden Zuges waren die Schranken am Bahnübergang geschlossen.
Because of an approaching train, the barriers at the level crossing were closed.
The word is made up of 'Bahn' (short for Eisenbahn, railway) and 'Übergang' (crossing). So it literally describes a place where you can cross the railway tracks.
In ländlichen Gebieten gibt es viele ungesicherte Bahnübergänge.
In rural areas, there are many unsecured level crossings.
A Bahnübergang (level crossing) is often secured with 'Schranken' (barriers) or 'Lichtzeichen' (light signals). People speak of a 'geschlossenen' (closed), 'offenen' (open), 'gesicherten' (secured), or 'unbeschrankten' (without barriers) Bahnübergang.
Vor dem geschlossenen Bahnübergang bildete sich ein langer Stau.
A long traffic jam formed in front of the closed level crossing.
Different prepositions are used depending on the situation: You wait 'am' (at) or 'vor dem' (in front of) Bahnübergang. You drive 'über den' (over/across) Bahnübergang.
Wir mussten zehn Minuten am Bahnübergang warten.
We had to wait ten minutes at the level crossing.
