On this National Rail Safety Week, Shadow Minister for Road Safety Hon Julie Freeman MLC has reiterated support towards mandating lighting on all rolling stock in Western Australia to improve train visibility and save lives.
Mrs Freeman joined Parliamentary colleagues, including Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA and supporters at a press conference organised by long-time rail safety campaigner Lara Jensen to highlight the urgent need for reform.
National Rail Safety Week, held annually in August, raises awareness of the importance of vigilance around rail corridors and level crossings across Australia.
“Western Australia still has hundreds of unlit passive crossings on operational lines, particularly in the Wheatbelt and Mid-West,” Mrs Freeman said.
“Installing flashing lights, rotating beacons, side lighting and reflective strips on trains and rolling stock is a tried and tested way we can improve safety for motorists and train drivers.
“It’s absurd that in Western Australia we have stronger lighting standards for bicycles than for the heaviest land vehicles in the country.
“Making train lighting mandatory is common-sense choice that the Federal and State Labor Governments have ignored for far too long.”
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA reaffirmed his commitment to legislate train visibility measures via amendments to the Rail Safety National Law Application Act 2024.
“The WA Nationals have long supported improving rail safety in Western Australia — in fact, we announced at the last State Election that in Government we would lead the nation in making train lighting mandatory.”
Mr Love reflected on the Yarramony crash, which claimed the lives of Christian Jensen, Jess Broad and Hilary Smith.
“This year marks 25 years since the tragedy which took the lives of three innocent young people who had their whole lives ahead of them,” Mr Love said.
“A quarter-century later, families are still waiting for the simplest safety measure – put lights on trains.”
Mr Love said the message this National Rail Safety Week was clear: “We must upgrade passive crossings and enforce train lighting standards.
“Everyone deserves to arrive home safely, and we must do everything we can to ensure that.”
