Level junction

A level junction (or in the United Kingdom a flat crossing) is a railway junction that has a track configuration in which merging or crossing railroad lines provide track connections with each other that require trains to cross over in front of opposing traffic at grade (i.e. on the level).

Not to be confused with Level crossing.
Flat junction: trains have to wait to cross the 'diamond' at the center
A schematic diagram of a dual gauge diamond crossing
Several diamond crossings (now obsolete after removal of one track direction) in the Port of Mainz, Germany
A fully assembled level junction used where the Union Pacific and Kansas & Oklahoma tracks cross

The cross-over structure is sometimes called a diamond junction or diamond crossing in reference to the diamond-shaped center. The two tracks need not necessarily be of the same gauge. A diamond crossing is also used as a component of a double junction, like the one illustrated on the right.

The opposite of a level junction is a flying junction, where individual tracks rise or fall to pass over or under other tracks.

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