If you’re heading into the city for a gig, a few drinks, or a late-night feed, Newcastle Transport is urging you to keep your wits about you around the light rail.
The call comes as CCTV vision reveals a string of dangerous near misses along the tram line over the past year.
Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Emmanuel Genlot said the footage was a sobering reminder that risky behaviour – from running red lights to walking along the tracks – puts lives on the line.
“Every near miss leaves a lasting impact – not just for the person involved, but also for our tram drivers, staff, road users and customers,” he said.
“We’ve now been operating the light rail for more than six years, and yet we continue to see some incredibly dangerous behaviour.
For gig-goers and bar-hoppers weaving through Hunter Street after dark, the risks aren’t always front of their minds. Tram drivers have reported seeing young people sprinting across the tracks and even running along them after a night out. In some cases, drivers have had to brake hard to avoid collisions – a dangerous move when you’re behind the controls of a 50-tonne vehicle.
Veteran tram driver Victoria Tonks said that even a moment’s lapse in attention could be enough to cause serious harm.
“We’re asking road users to obey road rules, and pedestrians to only cross at designated crossings and stand behind the line,” she said.
Just a moment of inattention could have serious consequences.”
Rail Safety Week runs from 11–17 August, with Newcastle Transport using the milestone to remind locals that trams are a key part of the city’s nightlife connection. You can find out more at newcastletransport.info.
