Rail Safety Week kicked off on Monday the 5th of August, with the annual event shining a spotlight on the importance of staying safe on and around rail.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison will this morning join a memorial service hosted by the TrackSAFE Foundation, Transport for NSW and NSW TrainLink at the Australian Railway Monument at Werris Creek, in northwest NSW, considered the state’s first railway town.
The Monument pays tribute to rail workers who have lost their lives throughout Australia’s rail history, and the special service will be attended by representatives from the rail industry, government officials, unions, families and community members.
Now in its 19th year, Rail Safety Week will see more than 100 organisations representing rail, law enforcement, government and community groups across Australia highlighting how to be rail safe, every day of the year.
Caroline Wilkie, Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Railway Association and a member of TrackSAFE Foundation’s Board said trains are a significant part of Australia’s transport network in cities and regional areas.
“As an industry, a community, and as individuals, we all must play an active role in keeping ourselves and others safe around the network,” said Wilkie.
“Infrastructure upgrades and the use of new technologies help improve the safety of the network. But we also need truck and car drivers, cyclists, motorbike riders and pedestrians to be aware of tracks, look for trains, tram and light rail and follow all signposted rules.”
Accidents can occur at platforms because passengers are not staying aware of their surroundings. The TrackSAFE Foundation’s new metropolitan campaign reminds passengers to:
- Turn down distractions by taking off headphones;
- Look up from their phones and
- Stand behind the safety line.
Rail safety messages have also been translated into Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean.
Between 2016-2023, there were an average of 83 fatalities per year, or seven per month, including 71 suspected suicides, seven trespassers, five at railway crossings.
Annually, there are almost as many attempted suicides as suicides. There are approximately 32 injuries at railway crossings or because of trespassing and about 1,650 railway crossing and trespass near hits reported to the rail regulator.
Heather Neil, Executive Director of the TrackSAFE Foundation said, “any death or injury on the rail network is devastating – not just for the family and friends impacted but also for rail workers involved in the incident and the first responders called upon in the rescue effort,” she said.
“Fatalities, incidents and near hits on the network can cause severe and lasting trauma to the rail employees involved, and most of these incidents can be avoided.”
Victoria
The Victorian Government is urging Victorians to take care and pay attention when walking near trains or level crossings, with new data showing that thousands of passengers are putting themselves at risk each year.
Last year there were 453 near misses across Metro’s train network and 124 on V/Line’s train network, each requiring train drivers to take emergency procedures to stop the train as quickly as possible – a train travelling at full speed of 110 kph takes more than 400 metres to come to a complete stop.
These incidents can also cause lasting trauma for everyone involved, including employees, their families, passengers, and members of the public who witness the incidents.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams poke about the importance of the week.
“Rail Safety Week is an important opportunity to remind passengers to keep safe across our public transport network,” she said.
In 2023 there were almost 3,000 incidents of trespassing on the network, or more than eight per day.
Trespassers cause significant disruptions on the network, and delay thousands of passengers while operators check the line to ensure it is safe to resume services – just a single trespasser in the City Loop can cause delays for up to 50,000 people.
Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said a moment’s inattention around trains can be devastating.
“Trains can approach quickly and they can take a long time to stop. Don’t take risks around trains,” he said.
V/Line Chief Executive Officer Matt Carrick said trains can come from either direction at any time, so always obey the signs, gates, booms and signals at level crossings, and only ever use authorised crossings.
South Australia
So far this year there have been 76 near hits reported on Adelaide Metro’s train network, up from 54 the same time last year.
The Seaford rail line has reported an increase of nearly 60 per cent. The tram network has recorded 77 near hits this year.
The shocking vision of reckless or careless pedestrians and motorists is being released as part of a Rail Safety Week 2024 campaign to encourage safer behaviour around Adelaide trains, trams and railway lines.
The campaign spotlights risky behaviour with the ‘Real life doesn’t rewind’ videos playing at Adelaide Railway Stations, on social media, television and location targeted messaging.
Near hits and collisions have long lasting impacts, not only for those injured or killed and their families but for the train and tram drivers and their families, emergency service workers and the wider community.
Audio from Adelaide Metro train and tram drivers is included to highlight the impact these near hits can have on their day-to-day work life.