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In short:
Dozens of videos released by Tasmania's rail operator show alarming near misses at rail crossings in Tasmania.
The number of reported near-miss cases has nearly doubled in a year, with the highest rise coming from the state's north.
What's next?
TasRail has launched safety campaign 'What's it going to take?' on the impact rail crossing crashes have on rail staff and their families.
The number of times Tasmanians have failed to stop or give way at a level crossing has near-doubled in a year, prompting pleas for motorists to change their behaviour.
Tasmanian rail operator TasRail said in the past financial year, the number of reported near misses at level crossings between trains and vehicles or pedestrians had increased from 39 to 68.
The most notable increase was in the north of the state, with 20 instances reported, up from 4 in 2022–23. There were also 79 cases of people trespassing in rail corridors in the same period.
TasRail chief executive Steven Dietrich said train drivers relied on motorists obeying the road rules.
"Trains cannot swerve or stop instantaneously," he said.
"Our workers all want to go home safe and well at the end of their shift … it's in your hands."
Near misses prompt safety campaign
TasRail has launched a safety campaign highlighting the impact crossing crashes have on drivers and their families.
A number of videos have also been released as part of the campaign showing a number of alarming near-misses.
"These are locomotives. They are large vehicles and they can cause significant damage and significant trauma when they crash … as well as the trauma and the impact of the drivers of those locomotives," Tasmania Police Acting Commander Nathan Johnston said.
"From the videos we've seen, it shows driver behaviour for the rail crossing are different to what we see in the street.
"People look at the train, and unfortunately make a choice to move across the crossing, contrary to the red light."
Risk and Compliance Principal for TasRail, Corrie Summers, said it was important for everyone to make the right choice every time and obey rail crossing signals.
"Our ladies and gents are out there on the front line everyday, and at every level crossing they get to, they take a deep breath, and they say 'oh please stop, please stop' and it's always a relief when the first person stops because that forces everyone else to," Ms Summers said.
"Until you've been in that situation, that heart-stopping moment, I think people might not understand the impact it has.
"Whether it's a near miss or an actual incident, the trauma is very similar," she said.
"There's nothing so important that you can't stop and appreciate a nice locomotive going past."
Trains take a kilometre to stop on emergency brakes
Mr Dietrich said it had been a tough few months for the rail industry, with two recent fatalities in South Australia on New Year's Eve.
"We don't want to head down the same track here in Tasmania," Mr Dietrich said.
In April there was a serious collision at Westbury, in the state's north, when a train collided with a semi-trailer on a level crossing.
No-one was injured. At the time, police said inattention likely contributed to the crash.
In May, a man narrowly escaped being hit by a train in north-west Tasmania when the man's ute became stuck on the tracks at a level crossing at Stoney Rise near Devonport.
He managed to exit the vehicle before it was hit by an oncoming train, which pushed the ute about 60 metres along the track.
Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard said it was important Tasmanians know that trains cannot stop quickly. He said gambling on making it across before the train was not worth it.
"People need to be aware that these trains can take about a kilometre to stop and that's under emergency brake conditions, so people really need to exercise care," he said.
TasRail said the main crossings of concern were Main Street in Ulverstone, Hoblers Bridge Road in Newstead, Reibey Street in Ulverstone, and the Midland Highway at Conara.