Sydney Trains releases CCTV of dangerous behaviour on city’s rail network
THIS crazy behaviour is just one of a series of unbelievable incidents captured on CCTV and released by authorities urging common sense. Watch our video compilation.
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ALBERT Einstein once said: “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I’m not sure about the universe”.
Apt words for the litany of ridiculous, reckless and sometimes distressing incidents caught on security cameras installed throughout the Sydney Trains network.
From drunken youths who believe they are invincible through to innocent travellers unlucky to witness others suffering near death experiences — it has all been captured by some of the 10,000 CCTV cameras keeping watch on rail travellers across the city.
The potentially deadly behaviour caught on film of a small minority of rail users has to be seen to be believed.
DAD DANGLES DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF TRAIN
A father waiting for a train with his young family at Wentworthville station decides to have a bit of fun with his two small children. First he carries his toddler to the very edge of the platform to peer over at the tracks. Then he puts him down and picks up his daughter, who appears to be about 4-years-old.
He dangles the little girl by her arms off the platform before lowering her down between the rails. He even lets go of her hands.
The dad then appears to hear a noise, he looks up than pulls the girl back onto the platform.
Five seconds later a commuter express roars through the station.
Mr Eid said the train was travelling at 100km/h when the driver saw the girl on the track just 200 metres away.
“The driver applied the emergency break, but it takes 600 metres for a train like that to pull up.
“That was reckless, that was stupid,” Mr Eid said.
“The driver turned his head away. He didn’t think she was going to get off the tracks.
“He was so shaken by the incident he had to have time off work.”
The matter has been reported to police.
Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said police would like to speak to the man.
“This should also be a matter that Family and Community Services need to be notified of,” he said.
“One of the things we would be concerned about is placing a child at risk by a family member,” Mr Mitchell said.
“We would also look at whether there a criminal offence occurred in this situation, or at least a summary offence under the Transport Act.”
COMMUTER KICKS OUT AT TRAIN
At Granville a young man of African launches a Kung Fu- style kick at a train as it leaves the station, because he is frustrated the doors have closed and it is leaving the station without him. The n board.
The train’s momentum flings him to the ground, almost toppling him from the platform. The man just manages to pull away from the gap between the moving train and the platform before he is dragged beneath its wheels.
YOUTH RISKS DEATH “BUFFER RIDING”
A teenager is recorded clinging to the back carriage of a speeding express train as it speeds through Liverpool station. It is called “buffer riding”.
YOUNG MEN PLAY RAIL ROULETTE
At Granville, a group of young men wander on to the platform as a coal train trundles through the station.
Two of the men pull up their T-shirts and walk towards the moving rail cars.
One man stops just centimetres from the platform’s edge, his head nearly struck by the train.
To end the prank, a third man pushed a shopping trolley into the moving rail cars.
GIRL CENTIMETRES FROM DEATH
At a station on the Sydney network a girl, probably affected by alcohol, steps onto a flat-bed car on a slow moving freight train carrying shipping containers, perhaps showing off to her boyfriend.
She falls between two cars, onto the tracks with the trains still moving.
When the train leaves the station, she is alive, but battered and bruised and climbs back onto the platform.
DAD PRETENDS TO THROW CHILD FRONT OF TRAIN:
At Mt Druitt, a young father carrying a toddler motions to hurl his son in front of train as it pulls into the station, startling other passenger s on the platform. Police are keen to speak to him.
‘We will find you’
Sydney Trains operations manager Tony Eid has seen many examples of people behaving stupidly, and dangerously caught by his team’s surveillance cameras.
Mr Eid said risky behaviour on the rail network is not only dangerous but can be fatal.
“There are more than 10,000 CCTV cameras across the network and these are monitored to catch people doing the wrong thing,” Mr Eid said.
There are also 610 uniformed police officers in the Police Transport Command patrolling trains, stations and transport interchanges, on the lookout for those people who insist on being stupid.
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They are supported by 150 civilian Transport Officers, whose main role is to check tickets, but also keep a watch out for anti-social behaviour and report it to police.
“If you misbehave or commit a crime on our network, the chances are that it will be caught on CCTV and the police will find you,” Mr Eid said.
“Our security control centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with communication links to transport officers, police and emergency services.
“Safety is also being improved with extra lighting, fences and additional measures at car parks, stations, and interchanges.”
And the chances of being caught doing something stupid will only be greater as the NSW Government rolls out more modern, high-definition cameras to improve coverage of the network.
Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the government is taking advantage of advances in technology to expand the reach of cameras.
“Our priority is ensuring the safety of our customers. We are working with the experts to deliver advances in technology that improve and expand the reach of the excellent CCTV network we already have in place.
“By introducing the Police Transport Command and bumping up the spread of CCTV cameras, it is much more likely than ever before that if you commit a crime on public transport you will be spotted and caught.”
Head of the Police Transport Command, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, said his officers sweep right through the rail network, not only looking for criminal behaviour, but people acting foolishly who could endanger themselves and others.
“These people are putting themselves and others in great jeopardy,” Mr Mitchell said.
“If you fall onto the tracks, these commuter trains take long distances to stop and the likelihood is that you will be struck and seriously or fatally injured.
“Patrolling police are not only looking out for criminal activity, but also for people who are taking significant risks. “
Mr Mitchell said a rail incident involving death or serious injury also impacts on railway workers and other passengers who witness the event.
“This is what these people don’t realise. While the impact on them could be devastating, it also affects those in the vicinity who see these terrible accidents occur.”
The PTC since it began operations in May 2012, has made more than 7,300 arrests, from minor offences such as anti-social behaviour right through to arresting major drug dealers travelling on trains to events such as music festivals where they sell their illegal goods such as ecstasy and amphetamines.
“We’ve made arrests of persons wanted for murder after they were identified by our patrolling police.
“These offences are not regularly occurring on the transport network, but we are identifying criminals who use the trains to travel from point A to point B.”
The PTC has laid more than 13,800 criminal charges and issued 143,087 infringement notices.
A series of disturbing videos provided to The Daily Telegraph by Sydney Trains, and others uploaded to social media, show a range of behaviour that can only be described as unbelievable.
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