Boom gate call raised again after collision
JANESSA EKERT why there are still no boom gates at the crossing despite a $1.5 million safety upgrade starting in late August.
“It’s a disgrace how long it’s taken,” Mr Pyne said.
“They’ve failed to do what they said they’d do.”
A Queensland Rail spokeswoman said that the vast majority of the $1.5 million upgrade had been finalised with the installation of the boom gates requiring temporary closure of the line
“Queensland Rail is working with third party rail operators on the installation of the new boom gates,” she said.
The locomotive had not been hauling carriages at the time and when the crew saw the vehicle emergency brakes were applied and the horn sounded three times.
“This incident serves as a clear reminder for the drivers of road vehicles to be vigilant around level crossings,” she said. “Motorists caught ignoring railway crossing protection could face a $353 penalty and three demerit points, while pedestrians could receive an on the spot fine of $235.”
Rain, Tram and Bus Union Northern branch organiser Les Moffitt said that train crew members also became victims when it came to level crossing crashes “with many of them becoming scarred for life”.
“The RTBU are fed up with the lack of positive action and is calling for some immediate attention in respect to improving safety around level crossings, particularly with the new technology that is available today,” he said.
Mr Moffitt said the Pixie System, developed in Townsville, had been successfully trialled in Victoria in 2011 and Queensland in 2013. The technology sent a signal that could be detected by a car radio.
“The signal overrides normal transmission and broadcasts a warning message over the vehicle speaker system regardless whether the radio is turned on or off,” he said.