This year’s Rail Safety Week is fast approaching on August 11-17, marking the 20th anniversary of the initiative.
The week will see more than 100 organisations unite to remind the community to act responsibly on and around rail.
Between 2016 and 2024, there were 744 fatalities and 812 injuries on or around railway networks.
The fatalities included 629 suspected suicides, 66 trespassers struck by a train and 44 deaths due to collisions with vehicles and pedestrians at railway crossings.
Of the 812 injuries, there were 516 attempted suicides, 108 trespassers struck and 175 injuries at railway crossings.
In addition, there were 8313 near misses at railway crossings – 4466 with a road vehicle and 3847 with people.
The TrackSAFE Foundation, the rail industry’s harm prevention charity, has released a digital toolkit to help promote its messaging during Rail Safety Week.
This year, the campaign is focusing on encouraging passengers to put down their phones, pause their tunes and look and listen for trains when near a rail network.
It also tells passengers to stay behind the yellow line and hold on to the handrails, and reminds locals and travellers in regional areas that trains can come at any time of the day or night – so care must always be taken at level crossings.
The assets can be accessed via the TrackSAFE website.
Several events are also being held during Rail Safety Week – see below.
Werris Creek – Moment of Reflection
Wednesday 13 August 2025, 11.30am to 1pm
In-person event
The TrackSAFE Foundation and Transport for New South Wales are hosting an in-person event at the Australian Railway Monument and Rail Journeys Museum at Werris Creek Train Station.
The 2025 Rail Safety Week Moment of Reflection will recognise all lives lost, people injured and those affected by the trauma of accidents on and around rail.
There will be a short ceremony with speeches and wreath laying and a minute’s silence, followed by light refreshments in the remembrance garden.
RSVP your attendance by Friday 8 August 2025 to Natalie Rapisarda at natalie.rapisarda@transport.nsw.gov.au.
Wellbeing Webinar: Mental fitness across the rail industry
Wednesday 13 August 2025, 12.30 to 1.15pm (AEST)
Online event
Amir Salem is a clinical psychologist who will lead this online session on how to:
- Recognise the warning signs of mental health issues and understand how they affect safety and performance.
- Use practical strategies to manage stress, isolation, and stay mentally fit in demanding roles.
- Build a peer safety culture by checking in and encouraging open conversations.
- Identify appropriate support options and apply work-life balance tools that protect long-term well-being.
The free workplace wellbeing session is being supported by TrackSAFE Corporate Supporters RT Health.
Register via TrackSAFE’s website here.
Knowledgeshare: Railway Crossing Safety Projects
Thursday 14 August 2025, 12.30 to 1.30pm (AEST)
Teams online event
This online session aims to share information on railway crossing safety projects from Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The content is relevant for rail and road infrastructure owners and managers, rail operators, governments, researchers and members of the community.
The session will include an update on ‘Augmented Level Crossing Warning System – pilot in New Zealand’ from Paul Bennett, Senior Technology Leader, Asset Management & Neil Beckett, Principal Professional Leader, Asset Performance, National Transport Research Organisation.
Scott Gabree, US Department of Transport Volpe Transportation Systems Centre will share a case study of reducing trespass through active policing in Florida. Finally, Paul Mullins, Chief Product Officer – Cordel will speak to Automated risk management of level crossings using AI and Machine Learning.
The link to join this session is available via TrackSAFE’s website here
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