TasRail calls for national approach to level crossing safety

TasRail has joined its rail industry colleagues in calling for a national approach to level crossing safety.

This follows the publication of confronting footage of a near hit between a train and a truck that occurred recently at a Wivenhoe level crossing on Tasmania’s North West Coast.

TasRail CEO Steven Dietrich said that his team hoped that the video would help raise awareness for the need for “vigilance when using level crossings – no matter the time of day”.

It follows a series of near misses and collisions at level crossings for freight rail operators across Australia, including the tragic incident on New Year’s Eve when two locomotive drivers from Pacific National were killed in a level crossing collision with a truck in South Australia.

“We need everyone on board. We must step up efforts, education and investment to improve safety for our drivers and the general community. This includes the rail and road industries, all levels of government, enforcement and road safety agencies, and the general community,” Mr Dietrich said.

An industry round table on level crossing safety will be held next month in Brisbane with the aim of working collaboratively to accelerate national solutions. This comes on the back of the recent release of the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy 2023-2032 and Work Plan 2023-2025.

Mr Dietrich said that level crossing incidents and near hits impact train drivers and others in the industry, and there is also a cumulative impact of these incidents over time.

“Our driver has been well supported throughout this time. Moments like these aren't easy to forget. The trains they drive can't swerve and can't quickly stop. All we can do is depend on all motorists to do the right thing and obey the road rules at level crossings.

Mr Dietrich thanked those in the heavy vehicle industry who were taking a proactive approach to these matters, and also Tasmania Police for their assistance.

TasRail reported 39 incidents in 2022-23, where road users failed to stop or give way at railway level crossings. Almost 80 per cent of these occurred on the northwest coast.