Media release – TasRail, 8 August 2022
National Rail Safety Week 2022
TasRail has urged Tasmanians to lose a minute, not their lives when they are anywhere near the rail corridor.
This week is National Rail Safety Week. Each year in August, the rail industry combines to raise the profile of community rail safety by targeting specific areas of concern and raising the importance of staying safe around railway tracks and trains.
TasRail CEO Steven Dietrich said that it was disappointing that the number of reported level crossing incidents and trespass activities around the state continued to increase in 2021-22.
“TasRail continues to reach out to educate the motoring public via a variety of platforms, including online and radio. We need vehicle drivers to understand that these are road rules, not rail rules, and to do the right thing,” he said. “Just as importantly, we need people – pedestrians, cyclists, fishermen, photographers, runners, school children, dogwalkers, you name it – to remember that our rail corridor and infrastructure, especially bridges and our yards, are no place for members of the public.”
In 2021-22 TasRail reported a 14.5 per cent increase in trespass incidents around the state, the highest figure in around six years. TasRail’s Senior Safety Specialist Corrie Summers echoed Mr Dietrich’s sentiments, saying that there was “no such thing as a safe shortcut through the rail corridor, and that saving that extra minute, or taking that Facebook selfie, is not worth it.”
“We urge the public to remember that our timetable and 100 plus services each week vary to suit the needs of our customers, and trains are quieter than what people think,” she said “Our drivers are reporting an increased level of risk-taking behaviour amongst all age groups. Of particular concern is young people using rail bridges for recreational activities.
“When we visit schools to discuss these incidents, very few of the students have considered the long-term repercussions of these activities. It’s an important conversation that people need to have.”
In 2021-22 TasRail reported an incremental increase in level crossing failure to stop or give way incidents around the state (4.7 per cent). While the bulk of these incidents (more than 63 per cent) were reported on the north-west coast, concerningly there has been a rise in northern Tasmanian incidents, up 50 per cent from last year.
TasRail’s Signalling Asset Manager Simon Chandler said that while many thousands of Tasmanians interact with the railway daily, the majority without incident, any level crossing incident had the very real potential to cause serious harm or loss of life.
“A decision to ignore the signs and signals at railway crossings could have far-reaching effects – to motorists and pedestrians, their families, locomotive drivers and rail staff, and the broader community. If the signals are on motorists must stop. Don’t risk it,” he said.
“Locomotives can’t swerve. It can take 1000 metres or so for them to stop under emergency brake. We ask motorists to consider how they would feel in that situation.”
Mr Chandler, who will attend the National level Crossing Safety Forum on TasRail’s behalf this week, said that rail safety was everyone’s business. “They’re road rules, not rail rules that we are asking people to follow. Almost every near miss and collision incident at a level crossing is due to the road user doing the wrong thing, either through error or thinking they can beat the train. “
For further information about rail industry initiatives during NRSW go to www.tracksafefoundation.com.au/rail-safety-week.
