6: The Value of a Life

Station 707

Currently there is no legal requirement for trains to be lit to a particular standard in Australia.

80% of the 23,000 railway crossings in Australia don’t have warning lights.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator reports that 26% of railway collisions with vehicles at level crossings occur during night time hours.

The Jensen family, and many other families around Australia, have lost loved ones and family members in that 26%. These families have been advocating for improved visibility and lighting on trains, and at level crossings, for over 20 years.

The rail industry in Australia is more-or-less self-regulated, and a recent report admitted that upgrading train lighting significantly improves the visibility of trains at night.

It’s a suggested reform only, not a mandated one. The reason?

“There is doubt about whether the benefits and the cost would really be worth it”.

If the death of a few sheep on a live export boat can warrant the shutting down of an entire multi-million dollar industry, why is there no change to train safety after the death a single person, when the change itself is so minimal in cost, and proven to be constructive?

Please consider signing and sharing this petition, calling for the implementation of minimum standards for train lighting. It’s open for another 10 days, and it’s Australia-wide.

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN6369

If you would like to support the work of Station 707, please follow one of these links:

https://buymeacoffee.com/station707

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JUQ7BKCYYYZDS

Thank you for your support!