Near Misses on Newcastle Light Rail Prompt Safety Warning During Rail Safety Week

2025 Footage of dangerous near misses on Newcastle’s light rail network has been released as part of Rail Safety Week, with the NSW Government urging pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to take greater care around trams.

The CCTV vision, captured from light rail vehicles in Newcastle (Other videos also released for Sydney, the Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta) shows pedestrians, bike riders and people on mobility scooters narrowly avoiding collisions. Cars and motorbikes were also seen crossing in front of oncoming trams, with some incidents occurring just centimetres from impact and others impacting.

While the highest number of vehicle near misses in the past 12 months occurred on the new Parramatta Light Rail, Transport Minister John Graham said the reminder applied across all NSW networks, including Newcastle. “These moments are hard to watch because in some cases there is just centimetres or milliseconds from the result being so much worse,” Mr Graham said. He stressed that trams, weighing up to 85 tonnes when fully loaded, cannot swerve and require time to stop. “Please stay alert and follow the rules to ensure your own safety and the people you are with. Whether you’re a pedestrian, a cyclist, or a driver, it is so important to take responsibility for your own safety,” he said.

Chris Minns is calling on the public to avoid distractions such as mobile phones, obey road rules, and never make illegal U-turns across light rail tracks. Rail Safety Week runs from 11 to 17 August and is led by TrackSAFE, a national initiative promoting awareness of rail safety.

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