29 Apr 2015

Call for change after train deaths

1:14 pm on 29 April 2015

The Rail and Marine Transport Union (RMTU) says too many people are being killed on the railways.

Morningside Drive level crossing

A railroad level crossing in Auckland (file) Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

There have been two deaths in Auckland in less than a week.

A 59-year-old man was hit by a train at the Papatoetoe Station last week and a man was hit and killed by a train this morning in Orakei.

RMTU spokesperson Wayne Butson said people were not being careful enough around train tracks.

"The simple fact of the matter is that tracks are for trains - they should not be for people, and people should not be wandering anywhere near the tracks whatsoever."

Mr Butson said more fences needed to be put in place to stop access to land surrounding the tracks.

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