Drunk passenger falls on to tracks at Melbourne Central Station

Footage has emerged of a drunk man falling on to train tracks at a busy CBD station, sparking warnings for Melbourne commuters.

A new warning about train safety has been issued after video emerged of a drunken passenger toppling on to the tracks at Melbourne Central Station

Rail authorities are concerned about festive alcohol-fuelled antics continuing into the summer holiday season.

It comes as incidents of unruly or intoxicated travellers in 2022 were reported at a rate of almost 10 a week across the city’s rail network.

In the latest incident to come to light, the man tumbled on to tracks but managed to roll back on to the platform before a train arrived.

Station staff were on site within two-and-a-half minutes, and the man was later assessed by an ambulance crew.

A rail passenger falls on to the tracks at Melbourne Central Station. Picture: Victoria Police

The man on the tracks as a train approaches. Picture: Victoria Police

The man clambers back on to the platform. Picture: Victoria Police

Metro Trains acting chief executive Paul O’Halloran encouraged revellers, shoppers and visitors to the city to take basic safety steps.

“We urge all passengers to take care on the network by avoiding risk-taking behaviour, staying behind the yellow line while waiting for services and avoiding rushing to catch a train.”

More than 9000 CCTV cameras – at stations and on trains – are monitored in real time from the central Security Operations Centre.

A total of 480 incidents involving unruly or drunk passengers were reported in 2022. These cases include people caught in train doors, as well as slips, trips and falls. Mobile phone distraction can also be a contributing factor to mishaps.

The number of incidents was down on the 2021 total of 601.

Shocking cases of passenger recklessness were also highlighted during Rail Safety Week when footage was revealed of a distracted pedestrian walking into a closed level-crossing at Prahran Station.

A pedestrian walks into a level crossing as a train approaches Prahran Station early in 2022.

In another incident, a commuter stumbled off the platform at Southern Cross station, falling into the path of an approaching train but made it to safety.

Metro is also monitoring the progress of another safety measure – a trial drone program to help combat trespassing on the network.

The program features two drones and four qualified drone pilots who can use the aircraft to patrol during special events and for live incident management.

The program began its trial in Melbourne’s western suburbs on the Werribee Line.

Metro says that a single trespasser at one of the busiest stations can potentially disrupt as many as 50,000 passengers.

The drones will provide updates to not only the Metro Control Centre but also to Victoria Police to help detect any criminal activity.

Originally published as Drunk passenger falls on to tracks at Melbourne Central Station