Star News Group: Death fuels rail fears

The death of a cyclist has confirmed community fears surrounding the safety of a level crossing in Yarraville. The 28-year-old Yarraville man was killed when he was struck by an express train at the level crossing last Wednesday. Footscray Police responded to the incident just after 3pm and blocked off part of Anderson St as emergency services were called to investigate the incident and clear the tracks.

A full report will be prepared for the coroner, but early reports indicate the man failed to see the Werribee-bound train after waiting for one train to pass through the busy station. Connex communication manager Kate De Clercq said the incident was the first on a level crossing in the metropolitan network to claim the life of a cyclist. City of Maribyrnong councillor Janis Rossiter said the tragic event had reignited community calls for safe crossing. Cr Rossiter said it gave more weight to the campaign to reopen the station underpass that was closed in the 1970s. “All of our pleas have been falling on deaf ears,” she said.

“We must try to do more to make this space safe,” she said. The fatality followed an incident at the crossing in June when a garbage truck was hit by a train after getting caught on the tracks. Since the incident, community members have been campaigning for a safe crossing alternative at the station. A spokesman for the community advocacy group Cross Safe at Yarraville, Alexis Ensor, said the group was to meet yesterday (Monday) to further discuss the future of the crossing. Mr Ensor said it would not use the tragedy to highlight the problem, but would continue its campaign to find a safe an appropriate crossing alternative.

“Our goal is to find a comprehensive solution to a safe and efficient pedestrian crossing,” he said. “The importance of having a safe crossing is only going to increase. This is not a static issue, it is going to be one of increasing importance.” Mr Ensor said the group would investigate a range of alternatives to improve safety features at the crossing, which has boom gates and flashing lights.

Authorities will check these features and the train as part of the investigation into the incident. Ms De Clercq said the train was taken out of service and buses were called to transport about 800 commuters to their destinations. Traffic was diverted around Anderson St and the buses were used until the line was reopened just before 7pm on Wednesday.