NSW Farmers is helping raise awareness of a critical and multi-faceted safety issue during Rail Safety Week that continues to affect farming and regional communities and costs the lives of too many.
NSW Farmers President James Jackson said all rail crossing fatalities are a tragedy and are particularly difficult when they occur in smaller regional communities.
"Transport for NSW estimates that there are 2,700 level crossings in NSW, roughly half of which are on private land providing vital access to, and within, farm land," Mr Jackson said.
"NSW Farmers recognises the critical importance of driver safety and awareness when approaching and traversing these rail level crossings, many of which have minimal signs, barriers, mirrors or flashing lights."
"Increasing visibility at these rural crossings will be vital to deliver safer crossings in regional areas, particularly at night."
"We recognise that not all level crossings in regional areas with low population levels can be fitted with flashing lights, barriers or klaxons - but the rolling rail stock can, and should, be."
"Unlike commuter trains, goods wagons do not have lights and many freight trains are exceedingly long. Apart from the light from the locomotive they can be nearly invisible at night across rural NSW."
Mr Jackson said that NSW Farmers has been calling for increased visibility of rolling rail stock since 2010.
"Improving visibility requires reflective material on the sides of all goods wagons and flashing lights on locomotives. We also see the value in fixed flashing lights and the erection of 'prepare to stop' flashing lights or high visibility signage 500 metres before the crossing on major country rail crossings."
"Highlighting the importance of safety at rail crossings is an important message year round, but we welcome the NSW Government's commitment to raising awareness during Rail Safety Week by requiring reduced speed limits at more regional locations, including Orange, Albury, Narromine, Cootamundra and Dubbo," Mr Jackson concluded.
