Number of ‘idiots’ caught train surfing explodes
TRAIN SURFING across the state’s rail network has exploded with the number of “idiotic” people caught on CCTV riding on the outside of trains more than doubling in a year. Now they have been given this blunt warning.
NSW
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TRAIN SURFING across the state’s rail network has exploded with the number of “idiotic” people caught on CCTV riding on the outside of trains more than doubling in a year.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance has issued a blunt warning to train surfers, promising their dangerous escapades would be captured by the 10,000 CCTV cameras across the rail network and they would be tracked down by police and fined up to $5,500.
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“The human body is no match for a 400 tonne train. All too often we’re seeing people entering the rail corridor putting themselves at risk, putting our drivers through hell and we need to get the message across that people need to not enter the rail corridor — every time they do they delay the train network, every time they do they put their own life at risk, every time they do they can earn a fine up to $5500,” he said.
New footage of train surfers shows people precariously clinging to the outside of trains at Bankstown, Belmore, Campsie, Lakemba and Mortdale this year.
Mr Constance said teenage boys giving in to peer pressure was fuelling the spike in the number of train surfers — many of whom post their idiotic adventures on social media.
Last year more than 110 people were reported surfing trains on the network up from 43 people the year before.
The problem spikes during school holiday periods and is especially common on the Illawarra line around Mortdale, Tempe and Hurstville.
“This reckless, stupid behaviour is not only endangering the lives of those individuals but the lives of others — we need this to stop,” Mr Constance said.
“It seems to be young teenage boys who are the worst offenders of this … there’s nothing cool about this. This is just idiotic behaviour and you’re putting yourself at risk.”
“Peer group pressure is encouraging these idiots to do this and I think social media as a means to promote your dangerous and stupid activity … these young boys are trying to show off to their mates, show off online.”
There were 780 serious injuries on the rail network in the last financial year which includes not only train surfers but also people falling when they ran to get a train as well as other injuries.
About 2,500 people illegally enter the rail network — such as crossing the tracks — each year.
Video was also released of an exercise conducted by Sydney Trains which highlights just how long it takes a train to stop and the impact of a train hitting a person or an object.
“It only takes a train accelerating quickly or braking suddenly to shake someone onto the tracks. If the fall itself doesn’t kill you, the next train coming along probably will,” Mr Constance said.
A train was filmed travelling at 100km/h before activating the emergency brakes. Balloons and polystyrene boards were placed at around 160 metres, 190 metres and 225 metres to show the force of impact once the emergency brakes were applied.
“In the test we modelled, it took 325 metres for the train to come to a full stop. That’s more than three football fields in distance, that’s compared to a car which would likely take 128 metres to stop,” Mr Constance said.
