The shocking moment schoolchildren take 'extreme risk' near train
Schoolchildren in Melbourne have been filmed dodging speeding trains just to save a few minutes – a risk the city’s transport authority says is putting young lives at unnecessary risk.
Footage shows children dicing with death as they run across train tracks and jump fences as trains approach, just to avoid waiting for the next service.
“It’s a pretty regular thing, running for your train, but some people take it to the next level and take it too far,” high school student Netty Gentile told 7 News.
“You don’t want to miss your train because you have to wait another 20 minutes or something.”
Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said the message about train danger isn’t getting across.
“They feel a bit invincible, nothing will ever happen to them – but we’ve seen incidents happen,” he said.
About 200 incidents each year involve pedestrians, particularly teenagers, at level crossings.
Public Transport Victoria CEO Jeroen Weimar urged commuters against taking such deadly risks.
“Be careful how you travel. Follow the signs and signals of the booms going. And watch out for your safety,” he warned.
“Please stop a moment and just think about the consequences. If you trip over, if you misjudge it by a few seconds, it’s the end and there’s no coming back.
“You don’t need to rush like crazy for the next train that you can see at the station just ahead of you. There will be another one very shortly behind.”
The terrifying incidents sparked a new education campaign to teach teenagers crossing train tracks is simply not worth the risk.
Operation Jet will encourage students to pledge to take more care around trains, to help get the message across that saving lives is more important than saving a few seconds.
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