Video footage of people racing across a level crossing in front of an oncoming train has been used to catch and fine them.
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Last week footage of a boy running in front of a train – and giving the driver the finger – at Dapto station caused a lot of anger for Mercury readers.
Some raised the question of whether anyone would be trying to identify the boy.
Detective Inspector Stuart Owen oversees the Police Transport Command activities in the Illawarra.
He said people trespassing across level crossing was “a long-term problem” in the Illawarra, partially because of the number of level crossings in the region.
He said the Dapto incident was under investigation.
“For our crews down in Wollongong, they know a lot of the faces on the network and around those areas,” Insp Owen said.
“If there’s footage there we will try and identify someone from that footage and pursue an investigation.”
People caught ignoring boomgates at a level crossing and walking or running across will fined.
The offence – entering running lines without authorisation – carries with it a $400 fine.
Insp Owen said the Police Transport Command has caught and fined people after they were identified through CCTV.
A spokesman from NSW TrainLink said they worked with the Police Transport Command to deal with the incidence of rail trespass.
“NSW TrainLink works closely with police to help identify possible offenders, such as through CCTV and also assist in police operations when they target trespass and level crossings,” the spokesman said.
“We are working in the community, including in schools and through booths at stations and level crossings, to help educate our customers and pedestrians about the dangers of unsafe behaviour at level crossings and when travelling by train.”
The spokesman said any staff involved in a traumatic event – such as a train hitting someone trespassing on the rail corridor – received trauma support and counselling.
They also had access to five days “critical incident leave” .
“Confronting situations are unfortunately one of the difficult parts of the job for our employees and we have a range of programs in place to ensure they are supported when traumatic incidents happen, such as when drivers experience a near miss or fatality,” he said.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
