Port of Newcastle: Coal climate change activists jump onto the tracks and stop a train 

Environmental protesters halted a train bound for the Port of Newcastle before scaling it and shovelling coal out of its wagons, resulting in dozens of arrests.

The train was waved down a few kilometres from the world’s largest coal export port when passing Sandgate, near the Pacific Highway, about 10am on Sunday.

About 20 people linked to so-called climate defence group Rising Tide climbed the carriages, while another 30-odd provided support inside the rail corridor.

Police charged 50 people who were moved out of the rail corridor with most given future court attendance notices and released, but four were taken away by police.

The train was stopped for at least four hours as the group of protesters, numbered by some reports as high as 150, unfurled banners reading ‘Survival guide for humanity: No new coal’ and ‘Rising Tide’.

Up to 150 in attendance chanted and waved banners reading ‘Survival guide for humanity: No new coal’

Those involved in Sunday’s protest said protests were their only option when NSW was significantly expanding its coal production.

Eight NSW coal projects awaiting approval this year would produce carbon emissions equivalent to 10 times the state’s annual CO2 budget, advocacy group Lock The Gate said in February.

‘The Albanese government is allowing massive new fossil fuel projects to proceed. This is an emergency, but we’re yet to see the ALP take decisive action,’ law student, Zack Schofield, 24, said.

‘NSW is facing the largest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. The Hunter Valley Operations expansion alone would produce more than a third of NSW’s domestic emissions for the next 25 years.’

Renewable energy engineering student Jasmine Stuart said: ‘Rallies and campaigning within the system are clearly not working, so people like me are left with no option but civil disobedience,’

‘As the head of the UN said, the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.’

Police arrested 50 people with most given notices to appear in court 

The protesters are linked to the ‘Rising Tide’ environmental activist group

Another protester said both the NSW and federal ALP governments need to cancel all new coal projects immediately to battle the ‘climate emergency’

NSW Police confirmed in a statement they have charged 50 people who attended the protest.

‘About 10am, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District, along with specialist police resources, attended Tourle Street, Sandgate, in relation to unauthorised protest activity,’ the statement said.

‘Police are speaking with a group of about 50 people who entered the railway corridor, with a portion of those people who had climbed onto a train carriage.’

‘While we won’t comment on specific individuals, or groups, the community can be assured we continue to monitor activities and will take action where appropriate.’

A series of similar protests disrupted the Port of Newcastle in 2021. 

The Port’s main exports are thermal and metallurgical coal which make up most of the $71 billion of goods passing through each year.