Rail Safety Week 2026

Newcastle Transport want you to know: It is hard to stop a 50-tonne tram.

This Rail Safety Week (10 – 16 August 2026) Newcastle Transport is urging Novocastrians to pay attention and look and listen for trams.

CCTV vision released today shows a number of alarming close calls near the Newcastle light rail over the last 12 months.

Keolis Hunter General Manager, Arsene Durand-Raucher, said the footage is a stark reminder of the risks people take around trams.

“Every near miss leaves a lasting impact – not just for the person involved, but also for our tram drivers, staff and customers,” Mr Durand-Raucher said.

“We’ve been operating the light rail for more than seven years, and yet we continue to see some incredibly dangerous behaviour by both motorists and pedestrians.

“We continually see people jumping onto the tracks or running in front of moving trams, putting themselves and others at serious risk. Emergency braking can result in falls for onboard passengers which can have life altering consequences.

“Our tram drivers do everything they can to prevent a collision, but the reality is, trams can’t stop quickly. We need the community to play their part in keeping everyone safe.

“We ask that passengers wait behind the white line on the platform, always cross at designated crossings and avoid rushing for closing doors,” said Mr Durand-Raucher.

Newcastle Transport tram driver Victoria Tonks said it can be very stressful, especially at peak times when the platform is crowded or when people are rushing to cross the road in front of a moving tram.

“Just a moment of distraction could have serious consequences. It’s terrifying when someone runs in front of you or jumps down onto the tracks,” said Victoria.

Customers can learn more about how to stay rail safe here. 

Watch the near miss video by clicking on the image below or download a broadcast quality version here.