The federal government is introducing new measures aimed at reducing railway crossing crashes, like the one last year in Barrhaven that killed six people.

Transport Canada announced the new regulations on Wednesday, saying they will help prevent accidents and improve railway safety.

The federal government said the rules will provide consistent safety standards at railway crossings across Canada, clarify the responsibilities of railway companies and road authorities, and improve safety features such as signs and warning lights at crossings.

The long-awaited measures will affect about 14,000 public and 9,000 private crossings along 42,650 kilometres of railway track across Canada.

From 2009 to 2013, crashes between vehicles and trains at crossings caused an average of 26 deaths and 26 major injuries a year.

In September 2013, an OC Transpo bus collided with a Via Rail train at a crossing in Barrhaven, leaving six people dead.

Transport Canada says these new measures address the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s concern that the risk of trains colliding with vehicles is too high.

The regulations will take full effect at federally-regulated crossings over the next seven years.