Rail workers are demanding urgent action to prevent more level crossing deaths after two train drivers were killed in South Australia on New Year’s Eve.
A truck driver has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving over Sunday’s incident near the SA-NSW border.
Cranes brought in from Adelaide and Port Augusta helped to clear shipping containers of carrier Pacific National strewn across the highway, with the road surface also damaged in the crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into the incident and will release a report when it is finalised.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Assistant National Secretary Shayne Kummerfeld has called for a zero tolerance approach to level crossing safety, with cameras at all level crossings and harsher penalties for drivers who drove across rail lines in front of trains.
“Anyone who has ever driven a locomotive has probably had a near miss at a level crossing, with someone trying to ‘beat the train’,” he said.
“The level crossing madness simply has to stop.”
Kummerfeld said four people were injured in a similar collision between a freight train and a truck at a railway level crossing in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, during June 2023.
“The rail industry has been talking about level crossing safety for years, but the tragedies keep happening,” he said
“It’s time that Governments across the country took a tougher approach to stop people from taking stupid risks around level crossings.
“For a start, there needs to be a zero tolerance approach to running red lights at level crossings.
“All level crossings should be equipped with cameras to catch drivers who stray into the rail corridor when a train is approaching, and heavy penalties must apply to people who do the wrong thing.”
Kummerfeld said better infrastructure and better use of technology could also help reduce level crossing incidents.
“Governments should also be putting more funding towards improving level crossing protection – with more warning lights, more boom gates and more grade separations,” he said.
Furthermore, he said governments should investigate options for in-car warning systems to let drivers know when trains or emergency service vehicles are approaching.
“Police already have technology that lets them know that a nearby driver is using their phone, so that sort of technology should be relatively easy to develop,” he said.
“Ultimately, it is up to all road users to take extreme care around level crossings and obey the law. Anyone who drives across a level crossing in front of a train is putting lives at risk.”
Pacific National Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah said the company’s thoughts and deepest condolences went out to families, friends, and all who have been affected by the tragic deaths.
“In times like these, words can never truly capture the magnitude of our grief. The loss of our colleagues has left an indelible mark on Pacific National, and we are all grappling with the profound sadness that comes with such an unexpected tragedy,” he said. “We are continuing to engage with the families, workmates and industry members who knew both drivers. They were both popular members of the community and we are aware of the enormous impact their passing is having on those who knew them. “Our Chief Operating Officer, Patrick O’Donnell, and SA Regional Manager, Josh Kirkham, have be onsite to assess the situation first hand.
“Conditions remain dangerous due to the collision and the charged energy present. We are deploying every resource at our disposal to ensure the safety of our recovery teams and will take every necessary measure to protect and support those involved in the recovery efforts. “Our Operations teams are managing work arounds for our customers and sending freight between the east and west coast via Melbourne.
“At the same time, ARTC are in the process of rebuilding parts of the track offsite, and we expect to be able to run services at reduced speeds in due course. “The repercussions of this incident are deeply felt throughout Pacific National and our industry. With the truck driver involved in the incident arrested and charged … the investigation is ongoing, and we are committed to ensuring that it is thorough and well-resourced.
“We understand the importance of learning how this terrible accident unfolded. It is our responsibility to work closely with regulators and the broader transport industry, including unions, to implement measures that will prevent similar accidents in the future. This commitment extends beyond our organisation to contribute to the overall safety of the transportation sector.”
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