Level crossing phone sign: what it means
The yellow phone sign shows where the railway telephone is at a level crossing. Use it if you need permission to cross or if something goes wrong.
What does the level crossing phone sign mean?
Know your traffic signs lists it as the location of the phone at a level crossing. Rule 299 says if you break down or have an incident on a crossing, get everyone out and clear first, then use the railway telephone to tell the signal operator.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Large or slow vehicles must phone before crossing.
- A railway crossing with gates or barriers is ahead.
- A railway phone is here at the crossing.
Show answer
C. A railway phone is here at the crossing. It shows the location of the phone at a level crossing (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: level crossing signs and signals, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 299, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
Beside the railway telephone at level crossings.
What should you do?
Use the phone when a sign tells you to, or in an emergency once everyone is clear of the crossing.
What do people get wrong?
Staying in a broken-down vehicle on the crossing to phone. Get everyone out and clear first.
Common questions
When should I use the railway phone?
When a sign tells you to phone before crossing, when lights or barriers do not work as they should, or after a breakdown on the crossing.
What if there is no phone?
Know your traffic signs says crossings without a dedicated phone show the crossing name and a phone number for the railway operator.
Compare with
Phone before crossing signLarge or slow vehicles must phone before crossing.
Level crossing with barrier signA railway crossing with gates or barriers is ahead.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 4 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (level crossing signs and signals) and The Highway Code rule 299.
- Know your traffic signs: level crossing signs and signals, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 299, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.