TasRail is concerned by the number of people risking their lives by trespassing on railway corridors throughout Tasmania.
In the last year, the state rail operator saw a 5% increase in trespass incidents involving individuals of all ages ‘using railway tracks as footpaths’.
READ MORE: Trespasser hit by freight train, killed in Tasmania’s north
TasRail Risk and Compliance Lead Corrie Summers said that disappointingly this figure had been steadily on the rise since 2020.
“Of particular concern is young people using bridges for recreational activities or being distracted by mobile devices,” Summers said.
“Rail yards are 24/7 industrial work sites and should only ever be accessed by trained staff and personnel. Members of the public should never enter a working railyard as a matter of safety.”
“You wouldn’t walk your dog or go for a run in a building site, don’t do it in a rail yard.”
“There is no such thing as a safe shortcut through the rail corridor.”
With many thousands of Tasmanians interacting with the railway daily and the majority without incident, TasRail say any level crossing incident has the potential to cause serious harm or even loss of life.
The North region reported 42 instances of trespassers in the rail corridor and 4 incidents of failure to stop at a level crossing.
The North-West had 34 instances of trespassing and 31 level crossing incidents, while the South region saw 7 instances of trespassing and 4 level crossing incidents.
Level crossings at Main Street in Penguin, Formby Road in Devonport and Henslow Street in Tarleton are considered the most concerning.
“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,” Summers said.
“Fatalities, incidents and near hits on the network can cause severe and lasting trauma to the rail employees involved, and most of these incidents can be avoided.”
