Mick Warren and Kevin Baker train deaths spark call for change and to set a global standard for rail safety

The widows of Port Augusta train drivers Mick Warren and Kevin Baker are united in a push to make level crossings safer, and save other families the grief they’re experiencing.

The wife of a South Australian train driver killed in a horrific level crossing crash on New Year’s Eve says the country has the chance to set a global standard for rail safety.

Petrea Ellis, whose husband Kevin Baker alongside fellow driver Mick Warren died in the Barrier Highway collision, says a recent national roundtable was a “good start” to what she said was an “urgent need” to improve safety at railway level crossings.

Mr Baker, 57, and Mr Warren, 48, both of Port Augusta, died in the collision on the Barrier Highway crossing just west of the NSW border into South Australia.

A Queensland truck driver, 75, was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The South Australian mens’ deaths sparked calls for greater upgrades across the country’s rail network focusing on level crossings – a call Ms Ellis has echoed.

Kevin Baker, one of two train drivers killed in a collision with a truck.

“It is pivotal to prevent further catastrophes, such as Kevin and Mick’s,” she said.

“My family and I know that despite not being able to bring Kevin back, out of his death, we can push for necessary changes that will prevent this type of accident ever happening again.

“These changes would limit, if not completely avoid, future collisions that often end with fatalities; which affects the wellbeing of first responders, emergency services, investigators, train drivers and sadly, the families who have to go through the grief of losing their loved ones.”

Mr Warren’s wife Renee Honan called for a national approach to fines for drivers who deliberately disobey or run red lights on level crossings.

“The main thing is there needs to be more signage and actual boom gates,” she said.

“That will stop people going through them, and red light cameras, too.

“But there needs to be a national approach.”

Pacific National CEO Paul Scurrah said he promised Mr Baker and Mr Warren’s families to make sure the “catastrophic impact of level crossing tragedies was passionately conveyed” at the roundtable.

Mick Warren, 48, one of the train drivers killed in the Barrier Highway crash.

“A split-second decision by a truck driver on New Year’s Eve at a level crossing in Bindarrah, resulted in the tragic deaths of two of Pacific National’s train crew,” he said.

“They were both experienced drivers providing a critical service benefiting all Australians, moving essential freight over the holiday period to keep our economy moving.

“We can get bogged down in the statistics, but each collision and near miss is a human experience.

“Some people escape unscathed, only shaken, but too many families are burdened with tragedy – death or permanent injury.”

Mr Scurrah said he believed the Bindarrah tragedy was “entirely preventable”.

“We called for a roundtable in the wake of the fatal Bindarrah collision, because we all need to get serious about rail level crossing safety and bring together industry, regulators and government to tackle this issue together and consider how we can improve protections and public education around rail safety,” he said.

Two train drivers killed in a horror truck collision on Barrier Highway, Bindarrah. Picture: 7NEWS

“Five of the last six major level crossing collisions occurred at sites that already have the highest level of protection and visibility.

“Therefore, we can’t solve the problem exclusively focusing on level crossing upgrades.

“While we can’t afford to de-prioritise this critical work, right now we need to up the ante to target human behaviour.”

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King this month announced $2.8m in the first round of grant funding for projects trialling a range of technologies including rumble strips, flashing and reflective posts and signage at crossings, and research into train visibility, solar-powered wireless warning signals and data monitoring.

“Regional and rural communities deserve to have safe and modern level crossings,” Ms King said.

“The Australian Government is determined to continue the good work we’re seeing under Round One of the grants, ensuring innovative solutions that support safer level crossings that communities need and deserve.

“I strongly encourage stakeholders, including those from industry, research bodies, and universities, to apply for a grant to make a difference for level crossing safety.”