Fatal crash at North Shore crossing spurs removal plea

THE Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) is calling for the urgent removal of a North Shore level crossing, following the death of a young father at the Station Street site last month.

The 30-year-old driver was killed when his truck was struck by a passenger train after the low-loader trailer he was towing became stuck on the rail crossing.

The front carriage of the train was derailed in the crash, but the driver and passengers were evacuated and sustained no injuries.

PTUA Geelong branch convenor Jarred Crowe said the association was concerned about the possibility of another fatality at the level crossing. “On the day of the incident last month, I was out at North Shore… and a lot of people there were not surprised.

“They’ve seen incidents occurs over and over again and they thought it was just a matter of time.”

More than 70 level crossing removals already completed throughout Victoria, but Mr Crowe said the North Shore level crossing was “one of the most dangerous and disruptive in the state”.

At present, the crossing is not slated for removal.

“The Geelong railway line is such a crucial connection between the two cities, and we can’t just have it shut down all the time,” Mr Crowe said.

“We need to look at making our train services much more reliable for passengers and reduce delays were possible.”

He said the PTUA suspected the state government was avoiding the level crossing by having it “put in the ‘too hard’ basket”.

“It’s a difficult space to work in there.

“There are freight yards to the west and then there’s the freight line to the east as well which is managed by a federal government entity, so they’d have to work with a large number of stakeholders to remove this level crossing.”

He also suggested the crossing’s location, situated within the long-time Labor seat of Lara, was a disincentive for the government.

“Traditionally the government don’t tend to prioritise these sorts of works in safe seats.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Planning said: “The North Shore railway crossing has safety infrastructure in place including boom gates, flashing lights and warning lights to warn drivers of the approaching level crossing.”