Media Releases

Media Statement - 1 June 2006

PACIFIC NATIONAL'S CEO CALLS FOR IMPROVED LEVEL CROSSING SAFETY

A Pacific National train was involved in another level crossing incident overnight.

“The latest incident involved a truck colliding with one of our trains in NSW but fortunately there were no injuries”, said Mr Telford, CEO Pacific National.

“This is the fifth level crossing incident in a month for Pacific National, something needs to be done immediately to improve level crossing safety across Australia”, Mr Telford said.

Pacific National has been involved in two major level crossing accidents in Victoria recently - the fatal collisions in Lismore and Trawalla.

“These two accidents have had a major impact on Pacific National both personally and commercially - with one of our own employees tragically killed in the Trawalla collision and costs from the Lismore incident reaching well over $10 million”, Mr Telford said.

Earlier this week, Mr Telford visited the accident site in Lismore to thank all those involved in the clean up and acknowledged the incredible efforts of the Pacific National recovery team.

In the past 3 years, Pacific National has been involved in 96 level crossing incidents across the country.

Mr Telford, as the new CEO of Australia’s largest freight rail operator, is calling on all governments to take immediate action to improve level crossing safety.

“I believe all level crossings should be protected by stop signs at the very least, we need to ramp up police enforcement of level crossing road rules and people need to be educated on the dangers of ignoring level crossing signage”, Mr Telford said

The number of level crossing incidents in Australia may not be significant when you compare it to total road incidents– but the impacts can be catastrophic”, Mr Telford said.

ENDS

Media contacts:
Pacific National Marie Festa	Ph: 02 8484 8046    Mob: 0405 494 705

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