❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for Transport regarding the implementation of auxiliary lighting on trains at unprotected rail crossings, referencing a coroner's report and seeking personal responsibility for future incidents. The Minister's response outlines upgrades to level crossings and adherence to national rail safety standards.
AnsweredQoN 988Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Trains—Auxiliary lighting988.Hon Rod Caddiesto
theparliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Transport:I refer to the
remaining unprotected rail crossings in regional WA.(1) Will the minister implement the
recommendations of a coroner's report handed down 24 years ago to immediately
install auxiliary lighting on trains operating on lines that have uncontrolled
rail crossings?(2) Will the minister confirm the WA Labor
government is able to amend theRail Safety
National Law Application Act 2024to require the installation of
auxiliary lighting on some trains operating in Western Australia?(3) Will the minister take personal responsibility
for any future deaths and injuries at uncontrolled rail crossings in regional
WA until the recommended train lighting is installed?
theparliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Transport:I refer to the
remaining unprotected rail crossings in regional WA.(1) Will the minister implement the
recommendations of a coroner's report handed down 24 years ago to immediately
install auxiliary lighting on trains operating on lines that have uncontrolled
rail crossings?(2) Will the minister confirm the WA Labor
government is able to amend theRail Safety
National Law Application Act 2024to require the installation of
auxiliary lighting on some trains operating in Western Australia?(3) Will the minister take personal responsibility
for any future deaths and injuries at uncontrolled rail crossings in regional
WA until the recommended train lighting is installed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 November 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Samantha Rowe replied:I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Transport.(1)–(3) Through the current level crossing
capital works program, Main Roads WA will deliver improvements to 82 locations
through a suite of measures, including boom gates, flashing lights and
pedestrian crossings. Following these upgrades, there will no longer be any
public level crossings marked with a give-way sign. The state government
supports a nationally consistent approach to rail safety matters through the
Rail Safety National Law and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator
(ONRSR). Ministers have now approved an Australian-first code of practice
designed to improve safety at thousands of level crossings around the country.
A rail transport operator that has not adopted theONRSR Code of Practice—Train Visibility at Level
Crossingswould need to demonstrate they have implemented an alternative
solution with the same or better control measures as evidence of whether or not
they have complied with the Rail Safety National Law.
Trains—Auxiliary lighting
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Transport.(1)–(3) Through the current level crossing
capital works program, Main Roads WA will deliver improvements to 82 locations
through a suite of measures, including boom gates, flashing lights and
pedestrian crossings. Following these upgrades, there will no longer be any
public level crossings marked with a give-way sign. The state government
supports a nationally consistent approach to rail safety matters through the
Rail Safety National Law and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator
(ONRSR). Ministers have now approved an Australian-first code of practice
designed to improve safety at thousands of level crossings around the country.
A rail transport operator that has not adopted theONRSR Code of Practice—Train Visibility at Level
Crossingswould need to demonstrate they have implemented an alternative
solution with the same or better control measures as evidence of whether or not
they have complied with the Rail Safety National Law.
Trains—Auxiliary lighting
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