2024

Company : TrackSAFE Foundation

Contacts : Heather Neil

Company’s website : www.tracksafefoundation.com.au

Level crossings’ website : https://tracksafefoundation.com.au/level-crossing

Videos : https://tracksafefoundation.com.au/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TrackSAFEFoundation/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrackSAFE

SAFETY REPORT 2024

LEVEL CROSSING FATALITIES, INJURIES AND NEAR HITS ON THE AUSTRALIAN HEAVY RAIL NETWORK 2016-2023

SUMMARY

• Between 2001-2023 there were 2,330 fatalities, 1,685 suicides or suspected suicides and 6451 other fatalities on the Australian heavy rail network. This is a total annual
average of 101 fatalities per year (73 suicides & suspected suicides and 28 other fatalities), or almost 2 each week. Most occur in Victoria (44%) followed by New South
Wales (30%), Queensland (12%), Western Australia (9%) and South Australia (5%) and 7 in the Northern Territory and Tasmania and 2 in the Australian Capital Territory1.
• Since 2016 rail operators have been required to report to ONRSR occurrences – be they fatalities, injuries or near hits in accordance with the National Rail Safety National
Law. Between 2016-2023 there were:
• a total of 1,424 fatalities, injuries and attempted suicides with no injuries reported on ONRSR, an average of 178 per year.
• 670 fatalities, an average of 84 per year. 567 of these fatalities were suspected suicides, an average of 71 per year and 84% of all fatalities.
• 489 attempted suicides. There are likely to have been many more attempted suicides and threats of self-harm that did not meet the regulatory reporting
threshold.
• 59 fatalities and 104 injuries to trespassers. In addition, there were 5,753 near hits with trespassers, an average of 719 per year. There are likely to have been
many more near hits that did not meet the regulatory reporting threshold.
• 27 fatalities and 138 injuries because of collisions with a road vehicle at a level crossing and 13 fatalities and 17 injuries because of collisions with a pedestrian at a
level crossing. In addition, there were 7,445 near hits at level crossings, 3,975 with a road vehicle and 3,470 with pedestrians, an average of 931 per year. There
are likely to have been many more near hits that did not meeting the regulatory reporting threshold.
• There were 4 other-struck by train fatalities and 6 injuries.

  • Total number of LC in 2023 : over 23000