Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has today introduced legislation to the Western Australian Parliament to make train lighting mandatory near level crossings, in a major step forward for regional rail safety.
The Rail Safety National Law Application Amendment (Rolling Stock Lighting) Bill 2026 will amend WA’s rail safety laws to require minimum visibility standards for trains and rolling stock, including flashing amber beacons, side lighting and other prescribed visibility measures.
Mr Love said the Bill was a practical reform aimed at reducing the risk of further tragedies at passive level crossings.
“For too long, families and rail safety advocates have been calling for one simple change — put lights on trains,” Mr Love said.
“Today, The Nationals WA have taken that fight from advocacy to legislation.
“This is a common-sense safety measure that should have been dealt with years ago. We have stronger lighting rules for bicycles than we do for some of the largest and heaviest vehicles in the country, and that simply does not make sense.”
The Bill provides a two-year implementation period to give rail operators time to retrofit existing rolling stock and comply with the new requirements.
Mr Love said the reform was particularly important for regional Western Australia, where passive level crossings remain a serious safety risk.
“In regional WA, motorists are still expected to identify trains at passive crossings, often in poor light, dust, rain or difficult driving conditions,” he said.
“If visibility can be improved, it should be improved. If lives can be saved, Parliament has a responsibility to act.”
Mr Love said Labor now had a clear choice.
“This Bill is not about politics. It is about preventing avoidable deaths,” he said.
“The Nationals WA have done the work and brought a practical reform before Parliament.
“When this Bill is debated, Labor must put safety first, back regional communities and support mandatory train lighting.”
