LONSDALE RAILWAY STATION
27/11/2012
Question asked 10 November 2011
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Transport Services questions regarding the safety of the Lonsdale train station.
Leave granted.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: On Tuesday afternoon of last week, 1 November, there was a tragic event at the Lonsdale train station. I have been contacted by a constituent who is a worker at Minda’s Lonsdale packing facility about the occurrences on this day at the station’s pedestrian crossing. I am told that a man with an intellectual disability, who worked at the nearby Minda furniture-making facility, was making his way home from work and, as I understand it, without realising that a train was approaching the station, the man went back on to the tracks to retrieve a bag he had dropped. In circumstances that I imagine were very distressing to all who witnessed it, the man was stuck by the moving train and killed. I am told that this is a situation that took some time for emergency services and police to manage, and the station was hence closed for some hours.
The train station is a transport hub for many workers from Minda’s two facilities located at Lonsdale. Given that many of these workers have an intellectual disability, I am left thinking of what safety measures may be of benefit to these commuters who frequent the station. I believe that several other pedestrian crossing stations on this line have automatic closing gates. This includes the crossing on Brighton Road within the minister’s electorate of Bright. My questions to the minister are:
1.Given last week’s tragedy and the demographic of the commuter population at Lonsdale station, what action has the minister taken to improve safety at this location?
2.To prevent this occurring again, will the minister as a matter of urgency install automatic gates at the Lonsdale train station pedestrian crossing similar to those in her electorate?
3.If the minister will not install automatic gates at the Lonsdale pedestrian crossing, will she concede that she prioritises the wellbeing of those in her own electorate above the safety of people with disabilities who would benefit from extra protective measures?
The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for this important question. It truly is a very tragic event, which I think deserves the utmost attention. I will refer the question straight to the appropriate minister in the other place.
In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT 27 November 2012
The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations): The minister for Transport Services has advised:
1.Following the incident, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) had its Chief Engineer inspect the pedestrian crossing at Lonsdale. The crossing was assessed as being in excellent condition, with all signage and markings meeting guidelines and line of sight in both directions being clear and unobstructed for approximately 500 to 600 metres.
Mr Peter Doggett, the then Acting Executive Director, Public Transport Services Division (PTSD), contacted Minda Inc. and offered to help with any rail training resources that might assist members of their community.
Staff from PTSD’s Community Engagement, Accessibility and Safety and Risk teams, also met with representatives from Minda and Bedford Industries to make them aware of existing DPTI rail safety awareness resources and to make suggestions for the safety and awareness program which Minda and Bedford Industries are developing collaboratively.
2.The 2012-13 state budget has committed $80,000 for the installation of an automated system at the pedestrian crossing on the Noarlunga rail line at Lonsdale.
DPTI currently is undertaking a detailed investigation, including a full risk analysis of treatments that can provide improved protection.
3.Decisions on priorities for investment, under the Labor government initiated Safer Pedestrian Crossing program, were made by the then TransAdelaide. This followed a full survey of every pedestrian crossing on the network. The survey examined the number and type of users, particulars of each site (e.g. sight lines) and the number and directions of trains.
Expert external consulting advice was then sought on the prioritisation of investment. Under this program a range of interventions were implemented including automated gates, electronic second train warning systems and maze improvements.
The state government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the safety of our rail network through these initiatives and the recent funding allocation in the state budget, and will continue to make safety a priority for those working within and using our rail network.
