A typical Adelaide Metro passenger train weighs around 140 tonnes and can travel at speeds of up to 110km/h.
If an emergency brake is activated, a train at full speed needs 470m of track to be able to stop safely.
Freight trains, which can weigh up to 10,000 tonnes, need more than 1km of track to come to a halt.
The dangers for pedestrians and motorists are obvious, but thankfully the latest Adelaide Metro data shows near-misses and collisions are on a downward trend, a promising sign that the safety message is sinking in around busy train and tram lines.
Near-misses and collisions across South Australia’s metro and regional rail network have dropped by clo
se to 50 per cent, with 79 incidents reported so far this year, down from 146 the same time last year.
While the drop in rail incidents is a pleasing result, far too many people are still ignoring the warning signs and dicing with death.
One incident of concern was captured in April 2025 (external site), where a train and car collided at the intersection of South Rd and Cross Rd (main image). The dramatic vision of the incident has been released to show the dangerous consequences when drivers are unaware of their surroundings, putting themselves and others at risk.
Thankfully in this instance, the train driver spotted the car and activated the emergency brake. Their quick-thinking action meant the driver of the vehicle was able to walk away with only minor injuries.
An essential part of rail safety is the education and training that train drivers go through, both technical and practical. As part of their ongoing training, each driver is required to complete an assessment in a train simulator, a high-tech system that can produce different situations and environments that drivers must respond to.
Director of Rail Operations Mohit Sareen that it was an important aspect of rail safety to make sure drivers were equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to react quickly to situations as they arise.
"The training simulator is much more than driving a train – users are exposed to changing weather events, unexpected situations and train faults that test their problem-solving skills and ensure they are reacting safely and quickly," Mr Sareen said.
"Our train drivers are tasked with safely carrying around 280,000 passengers every week, yet they are often faced with high-stress situations due to the blatant carelessness of some pedestrians and motorists.
"While near-miss incidents like those shown today may not result in tragedy, they do leave a lasting mark on those who experience them firsthand."
Motorists caught disobeying safety instructions or obstructing level crossing infrastructure can be fined up to $2500.
