Lead
A draft bill before Western Australia's parliament would require regional trains to carry flashing beacons, side lighting and additional reflectors, a change the state opposition says will improve safety at passive level crossings. But the union representing train drivers has pushed back, calling the legislation "fundamentally flawed" and arguing that poor road user behaviour, not train visibility, is the root cause of most crashes.
Coverage Comparison
The bill, introduced last week by the WA Nationals leader Shane Love, would give operators two years to retrofit vehicles and would largely target large agricultural and mining trains, according to ABC Australia. Both WA Labor and the opposition have said they would prefer a federal law change to maintain consistent rules across Australia, but Love said state-level change was overdue.
The move aims to make "passive" level crossings safer — those that rely on a stop or give way sign rather than boom gates or lights. Australia has more than 20,000 level crossings, and about 80 per cent are passive, as reported by ABC.
Key Claims
Union opposition
WA Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Josh Dekuyer said train visibility was not the cause of the majority of train crashes. "Overwhelmingly, about 75 per cent of the rail incidents occur during daylight hours," he said. "Having the train more visible doesn't really address poor road user behaviour."
Dekuyer also said flashing beacons could distract train drivers and cause headaches, pointing to a 2023 trial with grain handling company CBH. The company committed to installing LED beacons after "successful" trials, but has not yet fully implemented them, according to ABC.
Advocacy and history
Lara Jensen has been campaigning for better train lighting for 26 years, after her brother and two friends were killed in a level crossing crash. WA State Coroner Alastair Hope investigated the incident and recommended strobe lighting on trains at the time. Jensen welcomed the proposed bill, saying legislative change was long overdue. "I've spent more than two decades living with the consequences of a system that has failed to prioritise visibility and safety," she said.
Regional support
Regional shires have also been pushing for change, with 10 Midwest and Central West local governments unanimously agreeing to lobby the state government to urgently amend train lighting legislation, a claim carried by a single outlet and not yet independently confirmed.
Perspectives
The opposition frames the bill as a proactive safety measure. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said rail safety was a priority for the WA Liberal and National Party alliance. Love said: "This bill will put Western Australia at the forefront of rail safety reform... We must act now before more lives are lost."
The union, however, sees the bill as misdirected. Dekuyer argued: "It's not our train crew that are the ones crossing the level crossings when they shouldn't be." The union's position is that resources would be better spent on education and enforcement of road rules at crossings.
Both sides acknowledge the preference for a national standard, but the federal reform process has not yet delivered changes. The current national act does not require flashing beacons, side lighting, or extra reflectors, which is why the state bill has been introduced.
As the bill moves through parliament, it will likely face scrutiny over its cost, practicality, and whether it will genuinely reduce fatalities at Australia's thousands of passive crossings.