A $10 MILLION upgrade at level crossings is on the drawing board after three deaths at north Queensland crossings in two months.

A report from the Queensland Rail (QR) taskforce has called for immediate upgrades to eight level crossings, and planning is expected to begin next week.

The taskforce, which includes safety experts, train drivers and rail unions, was formed by QR last month after a tragic level-crossing accident near Cardwell in late November in which two train drivers died.

A truck driver, father of two Terry Brown, was also killed in a rail-crossing collision on New Year's Day at Mundoo, near Innisfail.

Transport Minister John Mickel says the report gives rail-safety measures an immediate boost.

"The QR taskforce has undertaken more than 500 inspections of crossings in north Queensland over recent weeks," Mr Mickel said.

"While we have seen a long-term 30 per cent decline in level-crossing accidents over the past decade, we need to collectively tackle the disturbing recent increase in level-crossing incidents especially in north Queensland."

QR acting chief executive officer Deborah O'Toole said QR had accepted the recommendations from the taskforce report for the priority upgrades, which were in addition to an existing long-term $33 million program.

"The spate of recent accidents was a major concern for QR, especially for our train drivers and our passengers," Ms O'Toole said.

Six deaths have occurred since June 2008, five of them in north Queensland.

More than 80 per cent of accidents have occurred between Mackay and Cairns in the past 18 months.

The taskforce also recommended that local committees should determine the safety protection for each crossing.

Safety measures include boom gates; active advanced warning; rumble strips; surveillance cameras; and sighting improvements.

The Transport Workers Union is also lobbying for safety upgrades.

"These safety initiatives can be implemented straight away," branch secretary Hughie Williams said.

"It would only take one day to erect a stop sign and lay down rumble strips.

"It is about time we stop talking and start making our roads and rail crossings safer."