Train near misses spike in northern Queensland

Near misses between trains and vehicles and pedestrians across regional Queensland are increasing. See the frightening footage.

Train near-misses are increasing in regional Queensland – but North Queensland is bucking the hair-raising trend.

At level crossings across regional Queensland, 99 pedestrians and vehicles had near-misses with trains this past financial year. That is an increase from 92 the previous year and 90 the year before.

Queensland Rail’s Far North/Tablelands region between Cairns, Forsayth, Normanton and Croydon had the most near-misses last year with 30.

The agency has released footage of near-misses to try and curb the unsafe behaviour.

One frightening clip shows a ute cutting across a train at Benwell Rd, South Townsville in March 2022, about a metre or two from the front of the train. The train driver appears to have pulled the brakes and the locomotive comes to rest across the level crossing, which does not have boom gates, as the ute speeds away.

Queensland Rail head of regional Scott Cornish said near misses and collisions could have lasting physical and emotional impacts on all involved, including road users and train drivers, loved ones, witnesses and first responders.

A vehicle is almost hit by a train at Benwell Road, South Townsville, on March 24, 2022.

“Our message is clear: always obey the level-crossing signs and signals and check for trains in both directions,” he said.

In the North Queensland region, which Queensland Rail deems Ingham to Abbot Point to Hughenden, there were 13 near misses last financial year, up from 12 the year before and 18 the year before that.

“It’s important to remember that trains can come at any time, day or night. They can’t swerve or stop quickly,” Mr Cornish said.

There was just one near-miss in the North West region; Mount Isa to Boree and up to Normanton. That’s a decrease from four the year before, and one in the 2020/21 year.

The Rosewood to Quilpie south-west region had the second-most near-misses with 27.

The 13 near-misses in North Queensland this past financial year happened at: Townsville Jetty at Morey St; Townsville at Hugh St, Charters Towers and Knuth’s Rd; Oonoonba at Oonoonba Rd; Pioneer on the Bruce Highway; Southern Cross at Flinders Highway; Inkerman at Georgees Rd; Townsville at Boundary St; Home Hill at Georgees Rd; Bobawabe at Rocky Pond Rd; Garbutt at Weston St; and Kurukan at Property Access Rd.

Originally published as Train near misses spike in northern Queensland