The NSW government is calling on the public to act safely around the state’s rail corridors, following the release of footage showing individuals risking their lives in dangerous stunts.
The CCTV footage – released to coincide with Rail Safety Week – shows individuals ‘train-surfing’ – riding on the outside of trains – and running across tracks in front of moving trains.
State transport minister Andrew Constance said that an increasing number of people were putting their lives, and the lives of others, at risk around the rail network with “stupid” and “dangerous” behaviour.
“This is scary stuff,” Constance said. “People need to realise they are dealing with a 400 tonne vehicle, the chances of surviving if something goes wrong are very, very low.”
Figures show that 110 people were reported ‘surfing’ trains across the on the network in 2017, up from 43 people the year previous.
Sydney Trains recently conducted an exercise to demonstrate how long it takes trains to stop upon breaking, as well as the impact of a train hitting a person or an object. In the demonstration, a train was filmed travelling at 100 km/ph prior to activating the breaks. Balloons and polystyrene boards were placed at 160 metres, 190 metres and 225 metres to show the force of the train’s impact.
“In the test we modelled, it took 325 metres for the train to come to a full stop. That’s more than three football fields in distance, that’s compared to a car which would likely take 128 metres to stop,” Constance said.
“It only takes a train accelerating quickly or braking suddenly to shake someone onto the tracks. If the fall itself doesn’t kill you, the next train coming along probably will.”
Transport for NSW continues to work with Police Transport Command in attempting to deter dangerous behaviour on the corridor. CCTV footage is used to attempt to identify responsible individuals. Fines for trespassing on the corridor range from $400 to $5,500.
“It only takes a train accelerating quickly or braking suddenly to shake someone onto the tracks. If the fall itself doesn’t kill you, the next train coming along probably will,” Constance said.