News

Australia’s largest rail freight operator Aurizon has expressed alarm following a serious near miss incident between a vehicle and a coal train at a Central Queensland rail crossing late yesterday.

At around 6pm a large four-wheel drive travelling at dusk with no headlights ignored a stop sign and an oncoming train at the Biloela Jambin Road level crossing, approximately 150 kilometres from Rockhampton. The drivers of the coal train were forced to apply the emergency brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision with the vehicle by less than a metre.

Aurizon Acting Vice Present Safety Health & Environment David McMah said Aurizon had been calling for the public to be vigilant around level crossings, but some motorists still failed to recognise the clear danger of trying to outrun trains.

“Yesterday’s incident is a disturbing reminder that some people are still 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.”

“These 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 from motorists who are trying to save a few minutes on their journey,” he said.

Mr McMah said the drivers of the coal train had been extremely distressed by the incident and were immediately relieved of their duties. They have been offered counselling and support from Aurizon.

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

“Our genuine concern is that the next incident could result in a fatality. Again we are pleading with all road users to obey the rules of level crossings in the same way they would obey the rules of the road,” he said.