Rail’s ‘interim’ solution

Union slams rejection of crossing boom gates

A RAIL union official is backing calls to install boom gates at a dangerous Cairns rail level crossing, saying security cameras will do little to prevent future crashes.

Queensland Rail has ignored pleas to upgrade the Collins Avenue level crossing at Edge Hill with boom gates, following two collisions between vehicles and the Kuranda train at the rail junction since the start of the year.

In the latest, in mid-February, a 50-year-old Yorkeys Knob man escaped from his wrecked car with only minor injuries.

Police are still investigating circumstances of the crash.

QR is assessing possible safety upgrades at the rail junction, such as security cameras and more signs, however has refused to comment on whether it is considering boom gates.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union northern district organiser Les Moffitt said it was the consensus of local members that boom gates would be the safer measure for the level crossing.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to dollars and cents,” Mr Moffitt said.

“I thought there would be no issue (with boom gates) but QR seem to around it a bit.”

He said his members were perplexed why the rail authority appeared not even to be considering the automatic barriers.

“They’ve been told that (boom gates) don’t work well in the city area, which is just a load of rubbish,” he said.

“We think that would be the appropriate safety measure.

“It’s only passenger trains be stepping that run along that part of the corridor ... so it’s really a high risk area.”

Within 24 hours of the most recent crash, QR installed a temporary security camera at the level crossing, and lowered the speed limit for trains at the site from 60km/h to 25km/h.

Mr Moffitt said security cameras would not halt future crashes between cars and trains.

“All that’s going to do is maybe provide evidence of people that do the wrong thing and try and race trains and that kind of thing,” he said.

“We need to be proactive and provide boom gates to stop these accidents.

“All a camera is going to do is provide evidence of who’s at fault.”

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