KiwiRail and TrackSafe NZ are calling on motorists to take extra care as new research reveals more than three quarters of serious vehicle collisions with trains occur in provincial towns and rural areas.
The message comes during Rail Safety Week which runs from August 9-15. It is coordinated by KiwiRail and TrackSafe NZ in close partnership with Waka Kotahi, NZ Police, Auckland Transport, Transdev Auckland, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Transdev Wellington and councils throughout New Zealand.
Over the last decade 79% of crashes between vehicles and trains at level crossings causing death or serious injury were in provincial towns and rural areas with populations of less than 75,000. Almost half of these crashes occurred in the mornings, between 8am and midday.
Findings from the study commissioned by TrackSafe NZ have prompted a new safety campaign which was launched at Parliament this week warning people to be vigilant when crossing railway lines.
KiwiRail chief executive Greg Miller says while the campaign targets provincial New Zealand, it is an important message for everyone.
“Farmers and rural workers are over-represented in the statistics when it comes to serious-injury and fatal vehicle crashes.
“People in rural areas often start their day early. Crossing railway lines safely may not be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when starting a busy working day so we are giving people a literal wake-up call with early morning radio ads this week reminding them to be alert to trains.
“Train accidents are unforgiving. The average freight train weighs 2000 tonnes or more and cannot swerve to avoid a car or stop easily.
“We are seeing at least one vehicle collision on train lines around New Zealand every three weeks, and a near miss every few days.
“Tragically, in the past 10 years 163 people have died on the rail network, 54 of those at level crossings. We don’t want to see another life lost,” Miller says.
TrackSafe NZ foundation manager Megan Drayton says while the number of collisions with vehicles at public level crossings is declining, there is no room for complacency.
In the 12 months to June, KiwiRail recorded 31 collisions with trains on the national network, 17 involving vehicles and 14 involving pedestrians. Of these, 12 occurred at level crossings on public roads, most of which had flashing lights, bells or barrier arms installed.
“Any collision is one too many and TrackSafe urges pedestrians and motorists to take greater care,” Drayton says.
“In our biggest metropolitan areas, Auckland and Wellington, we have busy networks carrying people to work and freight to ports and the frequency of services is expected to increase.”
It is not only people at risk in the rail corridor.
In the past 12 months, KiwiRail train drivers (locomotive engineers) have recorded 65 incidents of hitting livestock, usually with catastrophic consequences for the animals.
Miller says rail safety statistics are generally improving but there are still too many collisions and near misses involving trains.
“These incidents are usually avoidable and we urge people to wake up to the risk that trains pose.”
Transport minister Michael Wood says the Government is making level crossings safer with more than 70 level crossings upgraded around the country since 2018.
“These are improving safety in our urban centres and regions, and more upgrades are being planned.
“It’s appropriate this year’s Rail Safety Week campaign is aimed at raising rail safety awareness in rural areas given TrackSafe NZ’s research has found that the majority of collisions with trains happen in provincial and rural areas.
“With around 3000 level crossings throughout New Zealand, we all have to take care and be patient so we can get home safely at the end of the day,” Wood says.
