Paramedics were at Bowen Hill station in Brisbane this morning (May 7) to treat an injured commuter. Photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Cheap 50 cent fares are prompting more people to use the south-east Queensland rail network – and creating a surge in injuries.
Qld Rail says passengers with luggage and other heavy items on escalators and stairs, distraction (such as phones) and rushing are causing hundreds of preventable injuries.
Click on the following to watch Qld Rail CCTV footage of accidents
Qld Rail says slips, trips, and falls are trending up along with passenger numbers; 373 injuries were reported in 2024 compared to 288 the year before.
Injuries ranged from a scrape or bruise to more serious cases; 53 customers were so badly injured they need major treatment.
Qld Rail says that figure is down on the previous year (71 in 2023) but it remains a concern to them.
TOP FIVE SEQ STATIONS FOR INJURIES IN 2024
- Brisbane Central 57
- Roma Street 37
- Northgate 13
- Caboolture 11
- Springfield Central 10
Senior manager of safety and security Drew Brock says the number of injuries in 2024 is a real worry.
“We had more than 50 million trips in 2024 so we’ve reinvigorated our ‘Travel with Care’ campaign to help remind people the simple steps they can take to ensure everyone stays safe,” he says.
“Allow plenty of time for your journey – there’ll be another train coming soon.”
He said many of these injuries were caused by passengers taking their luggage, bikes or scooters on escalators.
“Please use the lifts when travelling with these items,” Brock says.
“Remember to be aware of others around you because running into someone or losing a heavy item on the stairs or escalators could cause a serious injury to someone else.
“Put your phone away and watch where you are going and hold the handrail while on the stairs.
“Please always stay behind the yellow line until the train comes to a complete stop.”
Qld Rail’s rejuvenated Travel with Care campaign will focus on the high-risk stations and involve new posters, social media videos, customer engagement and in-train announcements.
