Safety, Standards & Regulation

Rail Safety Week kicks off next Monday

Rail Safety Week will begin next Monday, with up to 75 rail, police and government organisations from across Australia and New Zealand expected to participate.

From August 13 to 19, TrackSAFE Foundation, the Australasian Rail Association and other organisations will be promoting safety around rail corridors, with volunteers from the rail industry preparing to visit thousands of school students in metropolitan, regional and rural areas throughout the week.

Former deputy prime minister and TrackSAFE patron Tim Fischer said the week would be geared towards drawing attention to the types behaviours that could lead to incidents on the rail network, including looking at device screens, wearing earphones or taking shortcuts across tracks.

“The safety messages we continue to push as part of Rail Safety Week are not new, but they continue to be the driving force behind incidents on our railways,” Fischer said.

“We’re urging members of the public to take responsibility for their actions when on and around the rail network, I encourage individuals to take the time to tell a personal story and share rail safety tips with friends and family members.”

Free public events with a strong rail safety theme will also feature in many communities, including police band performances and demonstrations at rail stations and level crossings, along with BBQs and other attractions.

“Together we can make a difference and reduce the number of incidents happening on our rail network – rail safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Fischer said.

Brochures and other material promoting the safety campaign can be found at the following link: https://tracksafefoundation.com.au/campaign-material