Rail antics spur safety fears

KiwiRail has given safety talks at school assemblies. Photo / John Stone

Schoolboys are putting lives at serious risk by "surfing" on trains and throwing stones at locomotives as they pass near city schools.

The Northern Advocate was contacted by a reader living in Regent saying students from Whangarei Boys' High School had been trying to climb on moving trains, and others had thrown rocks at trains as they passed near the school recently, while many others constantly walked along the train tracks.

KiwiRail has confirmed it is working with the school, and others in the area, after the incidents on the line through Regent recently.

TrackSAFE NZ manager Megan Drayton said the young people were putting their lives at risk as well as the lives of train drivers.

"Trains cannot stop in a hurry and are usually travelling faster than they appear. Many people who are lucky enough to survive a collision often say they were taken completely by surprise by the oncoming train. The only place people are legally allowed on tracks is at designated level crossings," she said.

Trespassing is the number one cause of deaths on the rail network in New Zealand. More than 148 people have died trespassing on railway tracks since 2000.

The Northern Advocate understands one Boys' High student has been disciplined for "train surfing" - jumping on a moving train and riding a short distance - while other boys have been spoken to over the incidents.

Boys' High Board of Trustees' chairman Tim Robinson said the school did not tolerate the potentially dangerous behaviour.

It was working closely with KiwiRail to reinforce the safety messages to students. KiwiRail would be at the school's first two assemblies next term to tell students the potential consequences of such behaviour, he said.

"We are concerned for the safety and well-being of anybody who is taking part in this behaviour.

"We are also talking to Whangarei Girls' High to ensure we have got a consistent approach to dealing with anybody on the train tracks.

"We're also working with police to reinforce the rail safety message," he said.

"We're not happy with this behaviour and we are not prepared to accept it."

KiwiRail communities liaison manager Gill Evans said KiwiRail and TrackSAFE were working with schools in the area to ensure students were aware of safe behaviour around the rail corridor.

"Safety is KiwiRail's top priority and we are working with the local police and KiwiRail teams to make sure every incident that we see or hear about is reported," Ms Evans said.

"It can take a fully laden train up to one kilometre to stop, and usually the best that train drivers can do when they see something or someone on the tracks is to apply the emergency brakes and hope that they can stop in time."

Trespassing on rail tracks can attract a fine of up to $10,000.