Don’t risk your life on the rail network

Victorians are being urged to be safe around trains and at level crossings, with more than 250 near hits with pedestrians and vehicles recorded on the V/Line network in the past 12 months. There were 194 near hits with pedestrians over the past year, up more than 55 per cent on previous year. Of the near hits, 35 were at level crossings, while others occurred when passengers took shortcuts to get to trains. There were 48 near hits involving pedestrians on the south-west corridor, while the northern corridor saw 44 reported incidents. Some 53 near hits involved vehicles, with 15 in both the western and northern regions, which was the most recorded - up from 38 near hits in 2023/24. Acting V/Line CEO Warwick Horsley said safety is their number one priority and they urge everyone to be patient around level crossings because trains can come from either direction at any time. “No journey is worth risking your life for - always obey the signs and signals at level crossings – they are there to protect you,” he said. “The consequences of rail incidents can be catastrophic, causing severe and lasting trauma to passengers, V/Line staff, and communities.” Collisions and near hits on the rail network put lives at risk, severely disrupt rail services and traffic flow, and have serious impacts on train drivers and other rail workers, along with the wider community. This year’s Rail Safety Week theme reminded the public to 'expect the unexpected and listen for trains'. Rail Safety Week is an initiative of the TrackSAFE Foundation, where public transport operators from across Australia promote rail safety in the community. The most recent near fatality and major collision in Euroa occurred in October 2023 on the Birkett Street level crossing in which a driver was able to exit his car before it was hit by an Albury to Southern Cross V/Line train. The collision demolished the vehicle and V/Line passengers were forced to wait for over an hour before alighting the train. Earlier this year a 9-year-old girl in Avenel was injured after a collision with a train. Two circus trapeze artists lost their lives on the morning of August 1952, when their truck was hit by the Melbourne-bound Spirit of Progress that was running express through Euroa. That collision caused upgrades to the crossing and was the genesis of one theory of the 'Strathbogie Puma'. There were no circus animals on the truck. For more information on track safety, visit tracksafefoundation.com.au