OFF THE RAILS

Alarm over vandalism, reckless thrillseekers New safety campaign with police and TasRail

VANDALISM, theft, thrillseeking, near misses and stress ... welcome to life as a train driver.

New figures released by TasRail show vandalism at level crossings rose 89 per cent last financial year to 55 incidents.

TasRail chief Damien White said vandalism of safety equipment and trespassing on rail lines had a big effect on drivers.

TasRail released disturbing footage of thrillseekers playing “chicken” with oncoming trains, as it launched a campaign with Tasmania Police to crack down on vandalism and trespassing.

The incident at Deloraine involved several people lining up on the track and moving out of the path of the train at the last second.

“It really does affect people emotionally,” Mr White said.

“We’ve had some our drivers have to leave the job or certainly not be able to return to driving.

“Our message is keep out of the rail corridor for your own safety and the safety of our employees.”

In a separate incident, a train driver was shocked when three girls placed themselves in the path of a train near Devonport.

Several youths were also seen to throw a pick axe on to the track ahead of an approaching train on the NorthWest Coast recently.

“They are absolutely risking their lives,” Mr White said.

“We’re appalled at this behaviour.

“From our perspective, it affects our drivers, it puts those people themselves at risk and it puts the general public at risk.”

The amount of vandalism in the first six weeks of this financial year has already reached nearly half that of the entire previous year.

The new campaign, announced yesterday as part of Rail Safety Week, will include increased co-operation with Tasmania Police.

The partnership will involve notifying police of incidents quickly, providing CCTV footage and “collaboration on all levels to identify and apprehend offenders”.

CCTV footage taken from TasRail’s locomotives during the July school holidays revealed a high number of children playing in the rail corridor, walking on the tracks, crossing rail bridges and placing obstructions on the rail.

Mr White said it could take a train travelling at 70km/h nearly 1km to stop.

“We urge parents and teachers to educate all children about the life-threatening dangers associated with people of any age accessing the rail corridor,” Mr White said. If anyone sees an unauthorised person in the rail corridor or acting suspiciously near rail infrastructure, they should contact TasRail on 1300 TASRAIL or Tasmania Police on 13 1444 or 000 in an emergency.

They are absolutely risking their lives. We’re appalled at this behaviour. From our perspective, it affects our drivers, it puts those people themselves at risk and it puts the general public at risk

Tasrail CEO DAMIEN WHITE