Passengers are being urged to put their safety first following a rise in illegal and dangerous behaviour at Donnybrook Station.
CCTV footage has captured several commuters illegally crossing tracks to reach the platforms and the carpark, with one video even showing a person jumping out of the way of an oncoming train, narrowly avoiding being hit.
V/Line Executive Director of Safety, Sustainability and Risk Josef Brennan was concerned commuters were actively putting their safety at risk by ignoring warning signals, running around the closed pedestrian crossing and boom gates, and across tracks to catch a train at the local station.
“The safety of the community is paramount and it’s extremely concerning to see an increase in people running around activated boom gates to cross the tracks and attempt to catch a train,” he said.
“This type of reckless behaviour is alarming and incredibly dangerous because trains can come from either direction at any time of day and night.”
Mr Brennan further emphasised the importance of planning to ensure a safe and pleasant journey from start to finish, for both commuters and drivers of the trains.
“Passengers should allow extra time to ensure they are not rushing for a train because the consequences of risky behaviour around the railway can be deadly,” he said.
“At level crossings, please always obey the signs and be patient. It’s never worth risking your life to catch a train.”
The Donnybrook Road level crossing services V/Line trains on the Seymour, Shepparton, and Albury lines, as well as the Melbourne to Sydney express passenger train and freight trains, with trains coming from either direction at any time, on any track.
So far this year, there have been 25 reported incidents along the north-east corridor, with 16 of those taking place at Donnybrook Station.
V/Line and the City of Whittlesea have recently installed fencing along part of the rail corridor to discourage passengers from crossing the tracks, while authorised officers have increased their presence at the station, especially during morning peak services.
