TasRail urging motorists to do the right thing after Railton incident

A train has hit a car abandoned on the tracks at Railton in Tasmania’s north after driver allegedly used the railway as a dangerous shortcut. DETAILS >>

BOTH the occupants of a sedan and a train driver were lucky to all escape injury after the locomotive hit the car which had been abandoned stuck on the tracks at Railton.

It is understood the motorists had left the road to use the railway tracks as a shortcut.

Police and emergency services were notified of the incident about 3:20am on Monday when the TasRail train hit the empty vehicle on the track at Youngmans Rd.

There is not a level crossing at that intersection.

The damaged car that was left on the railway tracks at Railton

Devonport Inspector John King said initial investigations indicated that the driver of the car and their passenger had left the vehicle a short time before the train arrived.

“It appears the people have left their car to find a way out, and one of them has then fallen in bushland about 100 metres away and hurt their ankle.

“They were then taken to hospital after being located by emergency services.”

“It is incredibly lucky that no one was seriously injured in this incident, and we are using this as an example to others about the importance of rail safety.”

TasRail has also called on motorists to “do the right thing” in and around the rail corridor.

TasRail CEO Steven Dietrich said that, while the train driver involved in the incident was fortunately unharmed, situations like this were extremely traumatic.

“Our trains can’t swerve, and they take a long time to stop.”

“There is very little chance of avoiding a collision when there is something on the track.

“Our driver stepped out of that train not knowing what they were going to find.”

TasRail Chief Executive Officer Steven Dietrich in Devonport in 2018. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

Mr Dietrich said that using the railway corridor as a shortcut, whether in a vehicle or on foot, was a “foolish numbers game”.

“Don’t do it. It’s not worth it, no matter where you are. It is illegal. Our timetables change. Your vehicle could get stuck. You could be injured. You just don’t know what is going to happen.”

Mr Dietrich said that, financial year to date, TasRail had already reported 67 incidences of trespass and 20 near hits at level crossings.

“We will continue to work closely with Tasmania Police to curb unacceptable behaviour in the rail corridor.”