Leader campaign calls for action on deadly level crossing

Residents have long pleaded for a dangerous Hampton pedestrian crossing to be upgraded but their calls have fallen on deaf ears. Now — in light of a tragic death — Leader is joining them in calling for action with its ‘Make It Safer’ campaign.

Residents band together at the Grenville St pedestrian crossing. Picture: Josie Hayden

Bayside Leader is joining residents, politicians and public transport advocates to demand a deadly Hampton train crossing be upgraded before even more people are killed.

Leader this week kicks off its ‘Make It Safer’ campaign, calling on Public Transport Victoria and the State Government to install gates and warning signals at the busy Grenville St crossing in Hampton before it is too late.

The pedestrian crossing — used by dozens of walkers and cyclists each day — has no safety measures in place and is made more dangerous by a bend in the track.

Promised safety works at the notorious crossing were cancelled by PTV just months before grandmother Gloria Holmes was hit and killed by a train on April 15.

Gloria Holmes’ daughter Lesley Mather and grand-daughter Simone Palamara have previously said something needed to be done at the crossing. Picture: Tim Carrafa

PTV and Transport Minister Jacinta Allan have refused to comment on what is being done — if anything — to make the crossing safer.

And now Leader has banded with Bayside Council mayor Michael Heffernan, Brighton state Liberal MP James Newbury, Public Transport Users Association’s Daniel Bowen and hundreds of concerned residents in urging them to take action.

Stuart Worn, who lives near the crossing, has started a petition and Facebook page calling for action.

Mr Worn said he started the petition — which has gained more than 150 signatures in a matter of days — because he was “shocked” at Ms Holmes’ death, especially as his daughter used the crossing every day to get to school.

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It’s harder to see oncoming trains at Grenville St crossing because of a bend in the track.

He said something needed to be done.

“I have always been alarmed at the crossing and to know the previous commitments have been about-faced on is disturbing,” Mr Worn said.

“It’s not that hard to install gates like every other crossing.”

Mr Worn said workers had recently trimmed the trees at the bend near the crossing to increase visibility.

A Transport Safety Victoria investigator had also inspected the site last week, he said.

Alan Thompson, who lived in the same apartment complex as Ms Holmes, said the crossing was a “disaster waiting to happen”.

Mr Thompson said he knew of three deaths at the site in eight years.

“We’ve been asking and ringing up (authorities) but you don’t seem to get anywhere,” Mr Thompson said.

Julie Smerdon has lived near the crossing for many years and has seen several deaths. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“You should not be able to cross there without a gate and with so many young children walking to school and the beach, it’s absolutely frightening.

“I actually saw Ms Holmes that morning and it’s such a shock when you find out a few hours later they’re dead.”

Mr Newbury raised the matter in parliament last week, saying a departmental source had advised him that the minister’s office was involved in the decision to deprioritise safety improvements just weeks before last year’s state election.

“The most devastating aspect of the tragedy is (the) community has called for safety improvements at that rail crossing for years,” he said.

HUNDREDS CALL FOR UPGRADE OF DEADLY CROSSING

SAFETY UPGRADES CANCELLED MONTHS BEFORE DEATH

There are no gates or lights at the pedestrian rail crossing at Grenville St. Picture: Josie Hayden

Mr Bowen said the cost to install gates was an “investment in safety, and reduced disruptions due to incidents”.

“On some lines, at some locations, authorities might reasonably say that planned level crossing removal works will remove the risk (but) this isn’t the case on the Sandringham line,” he said.

Ms Allan has been contacted for comment.

Get involved in our campaign by:

Signing the petition here.

Liking the Facebook page here.