Teenagers in Sydney are engaging in hazardous activities on trains, prompted by a trend on social media, raising substantial safety concerns for the rail network. Authorities report over 150 such incidents this year, with reckless behaviours including jumping onto moving trains, swinging from doors, and entering restricted areas like guard cabins.
Sydney Trains’ chief executive, Matt Longland, emphasised the severe dangers involved, warning that participants risk falling onto tracks, facing electrocution, or even being struck by trains. Longland described the trend as alarming, particularly noting its rise during school holidays, driven by social media influences.
In response, Sydney Trains has collaborated with law enforcement to mitigate the threat. They have increased patrols on train services most affected by this behaviour and stationed security personnel on trains. Additionally, physical barriers are being installed on the back doors of Tangara trains to prevent individuals from clinging to the outside, a measure that Transport Minister John Graham supports.
Graham remarked on the essentiality of these safety measures, reinforcing that such dangerous actions should not occur at all. The railway network is under constant surveillance, supported by a comprehensive system of 13,000 CCTV cameras situated on platforms and within carriages, aimed at enhancing security and deterring misconduct.
Given the increasing trend of dangerous behaviours, swift and effective responses from transport authorities are crucial to ensuring the safety of all passengers on Sydney’s rail network.