By ANEEKA SIMONIS
MULTIPLE reports of boom gate and signalling failures at a notorious Pakenham level crossing have been dismissed by Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
At least one of the incidents was reported to have resulted in a frightening near-miss between a motorist and an oncoming train, however that report – and all subsequent reports – have turned up no evidence of system failure, according to the transport network.
The Gazette first made inquiries to PTV following a reported near-miss involving a mum who allegedly slammed on her brakes to avoid being hit by an oncoming train as she drove through the level crossing with her young son in the car in late April.
“As she had slowed to about 50km/h to go over the bumpy crossing she was lucky enough to be able to slam on her brakes and stop. The train also applied its brakes,” the motorist’s mother reported.
“No lights or boom gates activated.”
A PTV spokesperson checked with both Metro and V/Line, finding there were no reports of the boom gates not activating at the location.
Several reports of boom gate related failures have been reported to the Gazette since, including the most recent report involving a V/Line train during the chaotic, morning peak on Monday 16 May.
It was reported the boom gates and lights failed to activate for the train.
Instead, the train approached the level crossing slowly and waited for motorists to stop before passing through before 7.30am that morning.
However, that too did not happen according to PTV which reported receiving no customer complaints over the alleged incident.
“There was no malfunction of the level crossing signalling system at McGregor Road and the train entered and exited the crossing safely,” the spokesperson said.
“The level crossing activated correctly, lowering and raising the boom gates to allow safe passage of the train.”
However, a number of witnesses claimed to have reported the incident to PTV, with a number taking to social media to further voice their concerns.
“As soon as I said Pakenham (to the PTV customer complaint spokesperson), she straight away said, ‘the one at McGregor?’ I also informed her that it’s a frequent occurrence of them failing and that school children are in danger.
“She informed me that a technician is going out there today to have a look at them,” one resident claimed on social media.
The Gazette has made subsequent inquiries into PTV’s record-keeping system as a result of repeat incongruences.
On a previous occasion, the Gazette was asked to specify which phone line a report was made to.
It was revealed that the motorist had called a complaint phone line which was too busy to take her call, instead asking her to leave a message about the incident which was not returned.
Following the Monday 16 May incident, the Gazette asked PTV if all messages recorded on the complaint line were monitored when surveying possible problems on the rail network.
The Gazette did not receive a response.
The only explanation PTV did provide about the recent incident was that McGregor Road is fitted with a protection signal which permits a train to be held prior to the crossing, with the boom gates open.
“This sequence of events is part of normal operation of the signalling system and poses no safety risk,” the spokesperson said.
However, this does not account for trains passing through the level crossing unaided by boom gates and signals.
