Tracks are for trains: Metlink supporting Rail Safety Week
Greater Wellington councillors and Metlink officials joined the Rt. Hon Winston Peters Minister for Rail at Parliament today, to officially launch Rail Safety Week and advocate for safe behaviour on and around trains.
Organised by TrackSAFE Foundation NZ and KiwiRail, Rail Safety Week 2025 is raising awareness of the critical safety risks associated with trespassing in the rail corridor, with the message to Stay Off Stay Safe.
Metlink Group Manager Samantha Gain says the campaign is a reminder that the only safe crossing is at a designated railway level crossing.
“Level crossings are specifically designed to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and those on board our services,” says Gain.
“Last year there were 642 recorded trespassing incidents into the rail corridor, and approximately 60 of these were near misses involving pedestrians.
“These near misses are not only extremely dangerous for the pedestrians but can also be very distressing for locomotive engineers and railway staff. We ask that for the wellbeing of all, pedestrians ensure they only use designated crossings, to keep themselves and others safe.”
TrackSAFE Board of Trustees Member and Greater Wellington’s Programme Director for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (formerly known as RiverLink) Fiona Abbott says the rail corridor is a high-risk environment.
“The railway tracks and surrounding areas (the rail corridor) typically extend five metres on either side of the tracks,” says Abbott.
With this campaign, we want to remind everyone that railway tracks and surrounding areas are environments where unauthorised access can have tragic consequences.
“The railway tracks and surrounding areas (the rail corridor) typically extend five metres on either side of the tracks,” says Abbott.
“With this campaign, we want to remind everyone that railway tracks and surrounding areas are environments where unauthorised access can have tragic consequences.”
“These corridors, as well as railway bridges, tunnels, and yards, are off-limits to the public, for good reasons – to prevent avoidable injuries and fatalities.”
TrackSAFE is jointly funded by KiwiRail, Metlink, NZ Transport Agency, Transdev Wellington, Auckland One Rail, Auckland Transport, John Holland, Stantec and Downer.