When it comes to ignoring the boomgates at level crossings, the people of Woonona are far and away the worst.
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According to figures supplied by TrainLink NSW, the level crossing at that northern suburb is the worst in the entire regional network for rail trespass.
From June 2017 to July 2018, there were 105 instances of people running across the Woonona level crossing.
That’s around one every three days – fortunately, none of those 105 people ended up being hit by a train.
But it’s not just Woonona residents who have a problem with obeying the flashing lights and lowered boomgates at level crossings.
Across the entire intercity network, six of the top 10 stations for level crossings are in the Illawarra.
And Illawarra stations also took out the top three spots.
In second place behind Woonona was Bellambi with 46 reported level crossing incidents.
Third place was taken by the level crossing at Creamery Road, Albion Park Rail, with 39 incidents.
The other Illawarra stations in the top 10 were Corrimal in seventh place and Fairy Meadow at ninth – both with seven incidents in 2017-18.
Dapto – the site of a recent level crossing incident caught on video – was in 10th spot with six reported instances of people running across the tracks in front of trains.
It’s not just Woonona that has a problem with obeying the lowered boomgates at level crossings.
A NSW TrainLink spokesman said strategies had been put into place to try and reduce the high level of track trespass in the Illawarra.
This includes having station staff visit schools to educate students about the risks of doing the wrong thing at level crossings.
“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.