Man plays ‘chicken’ with oncoming freight train

RAIL freight operator Aurizon has warned a tragic fatality is only a matter of time after a deadly game of chicken on the tracks at the Jellicoe St level crossing in Toowoomba.

About 11pm on Friday, a man stopped his vehicle at the level crossing, got outside, lifted the boom gate and stood in the middle of the train track waiting for the oncoming train.

The train crew had good visibility and saw the man in time to apply the emergency brakes.

The train stopped in time to narrowly avoid the man who returned to the car and left the scene.

Aurizon vice president of safety, health and environment Neil Backer said details of the car’s registration were passed on to police.

“We hope this foolish, irresponsible behaviour by this individual is met with the full force of the law,” he said.

“The incident is a disturbing reminder that some people are willing to risk their lives and those of our train drivers despite the obvious dangers, our ongoing safety campaigns and the possibility of police charges.

“Our drivers did a magnificent job in the circumstances. But there’s no way we can guarantee a person’s safety when they do stupid things like this.

“Our train drivers can’t steer a train off the tracks to avoid someone and they can’t stop the train suddenly. Coal and freight trains can be up to 2km long and can take up to a kilometre to pull up when the emergency brakes are applied.

“Near-miss incidents are extremely traumatic for our train drivers, who have every right to go to work each day without fearing reckless and downright stupid behaviour.”