Arabic version: خط غاولر يسجل قرابة نصف حالات الاقتراب الخطِر على سكك حديد أديلايد

According to ABC News, Adelaide’s metropolitan rail lines recorded 163 near misses in the 2025-26 reporting year, a 4 per cent increase on the previous period. The Gawler line accounted for 72 reports, or almost half of the total.

Pedestrians were involved in 98 of the incidents, representing 60 per cent, while cyclists accounted for almost 60, or 35 per cent. The Belair line also recorded an increase in near misses, while the Seaford and Outer Harbor lines registered reductions.

Video released by the South Australian government showed incidents including a cyclist pulling back at the last moment and a pedestrian diving out of the way. Transport Minister Joe Szakacs warned that distracted pedestrians were putting their lives at risk, particularly people walking through crossings with headphones in their ears.

Szakacs said a passenger train needs 500 metres to stop in an emergency, while a freight train requires 2 kilometres. Train driver Ben Hemmerling said drivers had seen pedestrians push through automatic barriers at crossings and mazes instead of waiting for warning bells to stop and trains to pass.

Near-miss reports rose on the rail network, but incidents on Adelaide’s tram network fell by 30 per cent, from 165 to 113. Hemmerling urged people to think twice and consider that a train might not be stopping.