Tynong resident Fred Petzke and Bass MP Ken Smith are concerned about safety at the rail level crossing.RAIL level crossings in rural communities are disasters waiting to happen, Bass MP Ken Smith claims.
Mr Smith was in Tynong on Friday to express concern about safety at the town’s rail level crossing in the face of the proposed fast train service.
The Liberal MP has been a vocal critic of the State Government’s handling of what is the largest upgrade of regional rail in Victoria’s transport history.
He said a close look at the rail level crossing at Tynong revealed a number of problems that would only be exacerbated by the $750 million “farce train”.
Mr Smith called on the State Government to do an urgent and comprehensive review of traffic around the Tynong level crossing.
“This crossing is inadequate now and much needs to be done,” Mr Smith said.
“Such things as lines of sight, fields of view, adequacy of roads, the rail crossing, traffic volume, type of traffic and winter fog all need to be considered,” he said.
“Traffic from and to Railway Avenue and quite heavy pedestrian traffic sharing the crossing roadway with vehicles are a further distraction at this inadequate crossing.”
Mr Smith said he had spoken with residents who often saw buses, cars and trucks going against the red lights and long trucks with their trailers’ rear end sitting on the rail lines.
“B double trucks, in particular, do not have space to pause while giving way without hanging out into Longwarry Road traffic or hanging into rail traffic space,” Mr Smith said.
“Clearly, action must be taken to address these issues.”
A spokesperson from the media unit of Premier Steve Bracks said the regional fast rail project involved the most extensive upgrade of safety protection at level crossings undertaken in Victoria.
“The upgrade to the Tynong level crossing will include the installation of boom barriers and pedestrian gates in conjunction with the corridorwide signalling upgrade,” the spokesperson said.
A total of 170 of the 232 level crossings on the country sections of the four Regional Fast Rail lines will undergo a safety upgrade as part of the project, the spokesperson said.
