Rail Safety Week 2025 - Keep safety on track

22 Jul 2025

With Rail Safety Week running from Monday 11 – Sunday 17 August 2025 we’re reminding everyone to take care around level crossings.

Level crossing collisions between trains and vehicles are a major road safety risk.

There are more than 2700 road level crossings on operational lines on the NSW rail network, with around 1300 of these located on public roads.

Between July 2015 and June 2025 there have been 66 collisions between trains and road vehicles at level crossings in NSW, resulting in 9 fatalities and 9 serious injuries.

Whether you’re walking, driving or riding, it’s important to stay alert, don’t rush, and obey the signs and signals around level crossings.

Motorists:

• Slow down: You must obey all signs, traffic signals, boom gates and line markings. Slow down and be prepared to STOP or GIVE WAY at all times – never assume a train isn’t coming.
• Look: Once a train has passed always check both directions to see if another one is coming before crossing. Even if a train isn’t approaching, you mustn’t proceed if you can’t drive fully through the crossing or if the road beyond the crossing is blocked.
• Listen: Always listen out for trains that may be approaching.
• Cross: Once you’re sure there are no trains approaching and you think it’s safe to cross, proceed with caution.
• Don’t assume: Trains can come in any direction along the tracks, at any time, and there can be multiple trains on tracks. So never assume that:
  • because you have crossed plenty of times before with no train in sight there won’t be a train this time
  • another train won’t come after a train has passed
  • you know when the train is due at a level crossing - some trains don’t run to schedule.

Pedestrians:

• Always follow the signs, warnings and signals at a level crossing.
• Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road and keep checking until safely across:
  • STOP! at the signs or signals. If red lights are flashing, the gate is closing or closed, don’t enter the crossing.
  • LOOK! continuously both ways for trains. Put away your mobile phone. LISTEN! for the sounds of approaching trains and warning sounds. Always remove headphones.
  • THINK! whether it’s safe to cross and keep checking until safely across the tracks.
• Only cross when the lights have stopped flashing or the gate has fully opened.
• Always use a level crossing to cross the tracks where available. Never cross the tracks at a place that isn’t a designated crossing or climb over barriers and fences. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Rail Safety Week- a collaboration of more than 100 organisations united in their commitment to promoting rail safety across Australia and New Zealand.

Read more about what we’re doing to enhance safety at level crossings: transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/programs/level-crossing-safety

More information on Rail Safety Week: tracksafefoundation.com.au/event/rail-safety-week/

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