❓ The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure outlines actions taken to improve level crossing safety, including fitting auxiliary lights to locomotives, upgrading passive crossings with flashing lights, rumble strip trials, and community education programs. A member requests further publicity for the Kalgoorlie to Perth line.
AnsweredQoN 426Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister advise the House of actions taken by the Government to improve safety at level crossings? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for this question. I know that a number of members in this House are very interested in this issue and we have been working on it since we first came to government. Given that this has been the subject of some federal commentary recently, it is important that we understand exactly what we have been able to achieve in Western Australia. I point out that we have a record number of level crossings in Western Australia. We have 1 400 level rail crossings on public roads and an additional 1 300 on private land. First of all, we focused on fitting auxiliary lights to locomotives. I report that the Australind , the AvonLink and the new Prospector all have crossings headlights as well as reflective strips on each of their wagons. Further, at the Government’s request, Western Australian freight locomotive operators have fitted auxiliary crossing lights to all their active locomotives. All locomotives operating on the freight system in the southern part of the State are fitted with flashing ditch lights and reflectors on their wagons. We have also focused on upgrades at level crossings. We have identified the passive crossings that need to be upgraded with flashing lights. The first five of those were fitted in 2002-03 at a cost of over $1 million. Another five have been fitted this financial year and we plan to continue that upgrade program and install approximately five sets of flashing lights each year. This year, because of the fast Prospector train that we introduced, we are focusing on the standard gauge line. We have also looked at introducing boom barriers to some of the areas that have flashing lights. A rolling program is starting this year. We also have a rumble strip trial, which began in 2002-03. Sixteen sites were chosen as suitable for the trialing of rumble strips. It is the most comprehensive and thorough test of the variety and impact of rumble strips and will test their productivity and effectiveness in reducing speed. That trial will be completed in July, and we will have a report ready for tabling in Parliament. A number of other trials are currently under way, including a trial to detect vehicles entering rail crossings when a red light is flashing. Unfortunately, many accidents occur at lit crossings. We are looking at ways to achieve better compliance on those crossings. We have also been working on community education programs. In conjunction with Curtin University, we have produced a video entitled “Increasing Awareness”, which will raise people’s awareness of level crossings. A number of different kits are being developed and they will be distributed to heavy vehicle operators, trainers, road safety organisations and primary and secondary school students within country districts. Level crossings will always be a problem and they will always pose a safety hazard. However, this Government is trying, on a number of different fronts, to improve the safety of our country communities. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. I know that a number of members in this House are very interested in this issue and we have been working on it since we first came to government. Given that this has been the subject of some federal commentary recently, it is important that we understand exactly what we have been able to achieve in Western Australia. I point out that we have a record number of level crossings in Western Australia. We have 1 400 level rail crossings on public roads and an additional 1 300 on private land. First of all, we focused on fitting auxiliary lights to locomotives. I report that the Australind , the AvonLink and the new Prospector all have crossings headlights as well as reflective strips on each of their wagons. Further, at the Government’s request, Western Australian freight locomotive operators have fitted auxiliary crossing lights to all their active locomotives. All locomotives operating on the freight system in the southern part of the State are fitted with flashing ditch lights and reflectors on their wagons. We have also focused on upgrades at level crossings. We have identified the passive crossings that need to be upgraded with flashing lights. The first five of those were fitted in 2002-03 at a cost of over $1 million. Another five have been fitted this financial year and we plan to continue that upgrade program and install approximately five sets of flashing lights each year. This year, because of the fast Prospector train that we introduced, we are focusing on the standard gauge line. We have also looked at introducing boom barriers to some of the areas that have flashing lights. A rolling program is starting this year. We also have a rumble strip trial, which began in 2002-03. Sixteen sites were chosen as suitable for the trialing of rumble strips. It is the most comprehensive and thorough test of the variety and impact of rumble strips and will test their productivity and effectiveness in reducing speed. That trial will be completed in July, and we will have a report ready for tabling in Parliament. A number of other trials are currently under way, including a trial to detect vehicles entering rail crossings when a red light is flashing. Unfortunately, many accidents occur at lit crossings. We are looking at ways to achieve better compliance on those crossings. We have also been working on community education programs. In conjunction with Curtin University, we have produced a video entitled “Increasing Awareness”, which will raise people’s awareness of level crossings. A number of different kits are being developed and they will be distributed to heavy vehicle operators, trainers, road safety organisations and primary and secondary school students within country districts. Level crossings will always be a problem and they will always pose a safety hazard. However, this Government is trying, on a number of different fronts, to improve the safety of our country communities. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
I thank the member for this question. I know that a number of members in this House are very interested in this issue and we have been working on it since we first came to government. Given that this has been the subject of some federal commentary recently, it is important that we understand exactly what we have been able to achieve in Western Australia. I point out that we have a record number of level crossings in Western Australia. We have 1 400 level rail crossings on public roads and an additional 1 300 on private land. First of all, we focused on fitting auxiliary lights to locomotives. I report that the Australind , the AvonLink and the new Prospector all have crossings headlights as well as reflective strips on each of their wagons. Further, at the Government’s request, Western Australian freight locomotive operators have fitted auxiliary crossing lights to all their active locomotives. All locomotives operating on the freight system in the southern part of the State are fitted with flashing ditch lights and reflectors on their wagons. We have also focused on upgrades at level crossings. We have identified the passive crossings that need to be upgraded with flashing lights. The first five of those were fitted in 2002-03 at a cost of over $1 million. Another five have been fitted this financial year and we plan to continue that upgrade program and install approximately five sets of flashing lights each year. This year, because of the fast Prospector train that we introduced, we are focusing on the standard gauge line. We have also looked at introducing boom barriers to some of the areas that have flashing lights. A rolling program is starting this year. We also have a rumble strip trial, which began in 2002-03. Sixteen sites were chosen as suitable for the trialing of rumble strips. It is the most comprehensive and thorough test of the variety and impact of rumble strips and will test their productivity and effectiveness in reducing speed. That trial will be completed in July, and we will have a report ready for tabling in Parliament. A number of other trials are currently under way, including a trial to detect vehicles entering rail crossings when a red light is flashing. Unfortunately, many accidents occur at lit crossings. We are looking at ways to achieve better compliance on those crossings. We have also been working on community education programs. In conjunction with Curtin University, we have produced a video entitled “Increasing Awareness”, which will raise people’s awareness of level crossings. A number of different kits are being developed and they will be distributed to heavy vehicle operators, trainers, road safety organisations and primary and secondary school students within country districts. Level crossings will always be a problem and they will always pose a safety hazard. However, this Government is trying, on a number of different fronts, to improve the safety of our country communities. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. I know that a number of members in this House are very interested in this issue and we have been working on it since we first came to government. Given that this has been the subject of some federal commentary recently, it is important that we understand exactly what we have been able to achieve in Western Australia. I point out that we have a record number of level crossings in Western Australia. We have 1 400 level rail crossings on public roads and an additional 1 300 on private land. First of all, we focused on fitting auxiliary lights to locomotives. I report that the Australind , the AvonLink and the new Prospector all have crossings headlights as well as reflective strips on each of their wagons. Further, at the Government’s request, Western Australian freight locomotive operators have fitted auxiliary crossing lights to all their active locomotives. All locomotives operating on the freight system in the southern part of the State are fitted with flashing ditch lights and reflectors on their wagons. We have also focused on upgrades at level crossings. We have identified the passive crossings that need to be upgraded with flashing lights. The first five of those were fitted in 2002-03 at a cost of over $1 million. Another five have been fitted this financial year and we plan to continue that upgrade program and install approximately five sets of flashing lights each year. This year, because of the fast Prospector train that we introduced, we are focusing on the standard gauge line. We have also looked at introducing boom barriers to some of the areas that have flashing lights. A rolling program is starting this year. We also have a rumble strip trial, which began in 2002-03. Sixteen sites were chosen as suitable for the trialing of rumble strips. It is the most comprehensive and thorough test of the variety and impact of rumble strips and will test their productivity and effectiveness in reducing speed. That trial will be completed in July, and we will have a report ready for tabling in Parliament. A number of other trials are currently under way, including a trial to detect vehicles entering rail crossings when a red light is flashing. Unfortunately, many accidents occur at lit crossings. We are looking at ways to achieve better compliance on those crossings. We have also been working on community education programs. In conjunction with Curtin University, we have produced a video entitled “Increasing Awareness”, which will raise people’s awareness of level crossings. A number of different kits are being developed and they will be distributed to heavy vehicle operators, trainers, road safety organisations and primary and secondary school students within country districts. Level crossings will always be a problem and they will always pose a safety hazard. However, this Government is trying, on a number of different fronts, to improve the safety of our country communities. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
I thank the member for this question. I know that a number of members in this House are very interested in this issue and we have been working on it since we first came to government. Given that this has been the subject of some federal commentary recently, it is important that we understand exactly what we have been able to achieve in Western Australia. I point out that we have a record number of level crossings in Western Australia. We have 1 400 level rail crossings on public roads and an additional 1 300 on private land. First of all, we focused on fitting auxiliary lights to locomotives. I report that the Australind , the AvonLink and the new Prospector all have crossings headlights as well as reflective strips on each of their wagons. Further, at the Government’s request, Western Australian freight locomotive operators have fitted auxiliary crossing lights to all their active locomotives. All locomotives operating on the freight system in the southern part of the State are fitted with flashing ditch lights and reflectors on their wagons. We have also focused on upgrades at level crossings. We have identified the passive crossings that need to be upgraded with flashing lights. The first five of those were fitted in 2002-03 at a cost of over $1 million. Another five have been fitted this financial year and we plan to continue that upgrade program and install approximately five sets of flashing lights each year. This year, because of the fast Prospector train that we introduced, we are focusing on the standard gauge line. We have also looked at introducing boom barriers to some of the areas that have flashing lights. A rolling program is starting this year. We also have a rumble strip trial, which began in 2002-03. Sixteen sites were chosen as suitable for the trialing of rumble strips. It is the most comprehensive and thorough test of the variety and impact of rumble strips and will test their productivity and effectiveness in reducing speed. That trial will be completed in July, and we will have a report ready for tabling in Parliament. A number of other trials are currently under way, including a trial to detect vehicles entering rail crossings when a red light is flashing. Unfortunately, many accidents occur at lit crossings. We are looking at ways to achieve better compliance on those crossings. We have also been working on community education programs. In conjunction with Curtin University, we have produced a video entitled “Increasing Awareness”, which will raise people’s awareness of level crossings. A number of different kits are being developed and they will be distributed to heavy vehicle operators, trainers, road safety organisations and primary and secondary school students within country districts. Level crossings will always be a problem and they will always pose a safety hazard. However, this Government is trying, on a number of different fronts, to improve the safety of our country communities. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: That is good. I was one of the people who wrote to you about that. I am pleased that you have done that. Will you put a bit of money into the publicity of the line from Kalgoorlie to Perth, so there is recognition of the danger, because it is a major risk? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: It is a major risk. Certainly, one part of our action must be a community awareness program. The videotape has been produced, and I am more than happy to focus a campaign on that standard gauge line.
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