Terrifying footage has emerged showing commuters taking part in risky stunts across Sydney’s train network.
CCTV footage from train stations across the city shows people running in front of moving trains, riding on the back of carriages and sliding down railings.
The life-threatening behaviour is being slammed by transport authorities who are urging commuters to stop participating in such risky behavior.
Footage shows two teens run out of the train and jump onto the back of the carriage
Footage was released as part of Rail Safety Week alongside figures revealing the extent of risk taking as well as mishaps and accidents across the train network.
New South Wales Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the footage should act as a sobering reminder for commuters.
‘It’s really concerning to see people getting hurt and risking their lives to chase social media likes. We’ve seen 2,689 incidents of trespassing in the last 12 months, many of them reckless acts for selfie stunts,’ Mr Constance said.
‘Some of these incidents such as people sliding down handrails and spraining their ankles, or falling over while looking at their phones are easily avoided with just a little more common sense.’
Another clip shows a young girl narrowly avoid being hit by a train after climbing behind a railway barrier.
In another video a passenger runs across the tracks to get to the opposite platform to catch their train.
One of them stays on back as the train pulls away and out of the station
Another clip shows a young girl narrowly avoid being hit by a train after climbing behind a railway barrier
In another video a passenger runs across the tracks to get to the opposite platform to catch their train
Not all the behaviour caught on camera involves taking risk, with a number of accidents also on display to warn passengers to pay more attention.
This includes a number of people falling onto the tracks, down stairs or running into a train carriage after the door had already slammed shut.
New South wales Transport said there was 1,925 incidents of slips, trips and falls around the rail network in the past 12 months.
Sydney Trains Acting Chief Executive Suzanne Holden said people don’t realise how dangerous train stations can be.
‘It is easy to forget how dangerous trains and stations can be if you are distracted or in a hurry, trains travel at speeds of more than 100km/h, they are surprisingly quiet and take a significant distance to stop,’ she said.
A man is seen lying on the tracks after falling off the train platform
Some of those who act recklessly around trains are not so fortunate with a number of fatalities being recorded after pedestrians ventured onto train tracks.
An Auckland man recently spoke up about the post-traumatic stress he suffers after witnessing three deaths that ended his 10-year career as a train driver.
Kevin Komiti said knows the fatal collision was not his fault, but cannot feel some lingering sense of contribution because he was in charge of the train.
It was an experience shared by many drivers who have been involved in fatal collisions, with traumatic memories emerging out of the blue.
‘You’d be doing something and suddenly you just go blank and drop everything, no energy to do it whatsoever and all you can think about is what you’ve done,’ he told Newshub. ‘
‘It’s like we’re in prison in our head, we can’t get out of it, we can’t help it either.
‘I’ve done counselling, I’m on medication, it just numbs my feelings. When I’m back to normal I still get those feelings.’
This recent near-miss (pictured) was captured on CCTV across the Tasman in New Zealand
Megan Drayton, TrackSAFE NZ foundation manager, said in the last 12 months there had been 300 near misses – 191 of which were at public crossings with flashing lights and bells.
‘This shows us that even with warning signs and protections in place, some motorists and pedestrians are still either being complacent, or taking unnecessary risks,’ she said.
There has been a reported slight drop in near misses in 2020 compared to 2019 but that is likely because less people are out and about due to COVID-19 lockdown measures.