When 85 tonnes meets 'use your eyeballs': Sydney's tram troubles echo through generations

Nearly 65 years after Sydney's last tram clanged down the tracks in 1961, they're back with a vengeance - and so are the safety headaches. Heart-stopping CCTV footage released by Transport NSW during this year's Rail Safety Week shows the daily reality facing tram drivers across Sydney's expanding light rail network: cars darting into their path, pedestrians walking oblivious into danger, and near-misses measured in centimetres and split seconds.

The compilation of close calls, described by officials as 'hard to watch,' captures the moment tram drivers slam their brakes as reckless road users treat the 85-tonne vehicles like they can stop on a dime. Between 2016 and 2024, there were nine fatalities and 994 injuries on Australia's light rail networks, with the bulk occurring in Melbourne's extensive system. But it's Sydney's newest addition - the Parramatta Light Rail, which opened to the public on 20 December 2024 - that's seeing the most concerning trends.

The 'use your eyeballs' reality check

According to government figures, the Parramatta system has recorded more vehicle near-misses in the past 12 months than other lines, as Western Sydney adjusts to the new transport format. Transport NSW's blunt social media response to concerned viewers - 'Use your eyeballs, people!' - might sound flippant, but it reflects a genuine frustration with dangerous behaviour around these quiet, heavy vehicles.

The footage, captured across Sydney, Newcastle, and Parramatta systems, shows a troubling pattern: drivers treating trams like regular traffic, pedestrians crossing without looking, and cyclists cutting across tracks at the worst possible moments. What makes this particularly concerning is that modern trams are much quieter than their historical predecessors, yet they're just as deadly when things go wrong.

The price of poor decisions

The consequences of these near-misses extend far beyond heart-stopping moments. NSW has implemented hefty penalties to discourage dangerous behaviour around light rail, but many people remain unaware of just how expensive a momentary lapse in attention can be.

Between October 21 and November 14, NSW Police issued 162 fines targeting light rail infringements, suggesting the problem is widespread enough to warrant dedicated enforcement operations.

Why this hits closer to home for seniors

For Australians over 60, these safety concerns carry extra weight. Medications, vision loss, neurological disorders and reduced mobility can all make older adults more vulnerable to accidents, and trams present unique challenges that buses and cars don't.

Modern light rail vehicles are very quiet and smooth, with noise levels remaining low even at maximum speeds of 70km/h. To alert members of the public of their approach, they're fitted with audible warnings (both horn and bell) and high-intensity headlights, but these safety features only work if people are paying attention.

The challenge is compounded by the fact that many seniors lived through Sydney's original tram era and remember when the network was dismantled. The return of trams to Sydney streets after such a long absence means navigating new safety realities around familiar technology.

When Sydney said goodbye (and hello again) to trams

The irony of today's safety campaigns isn't lost on those who remember Sydney's tram heyday. The Sydney tramway network served the inner suburbs from 1879 until 1961, becoming the largest in Australia and the second largest in the Commonwealth of Nations after London. At its peak during the 1930s, about 1,600 trams were in service at any one time.

The final tram service completed its journey on 25 February 1961, when R1 class tram 1995 returned from La Perouse to Randwick Workshops just before 4:40pm. Within days of Sydney's last tram running, road traffic congestion due to the motor car had begun.

The decision to remove trams was driven partly by the perception that they caused traffic congestion - ironically, the same congestion that today's light rail is designed to alleviate. In many ways, the Sydney tram system was a victim of its own success. The overcrowded trams, running at high frequency in competition with growing private motor car use, ended up being blamed for the congestion caused by cars and unregulated private bus operators.

Rail Safety Week puts spotlight on behaviour

Rail Safety Week is an Australasian public safety campaign held every year in the second week of August, raising awareness on how to stay safe near level crossings and light rail since 2007. This year marks the 19th Rail Safety Week, with more than 100 organisations uniting to remind the community to act responsibly on and around the rail network.

The national campaign celebrates its 20th anniversary of raising awareness about safe behaviour around trains and light rail vehicles, with Transport Canberra joining for the seventh consecutive year since light rail began operation in the ACT.

The timing of NSW's footage release wasn't coincidental. Rail Safety Week is designed to engage the community in safe rail practices, featuring tailored information campaigns for regional and metropolitan areas that cover the unique nature of potential interactions with rail networks in city and country settings.

What's next for light rail safety

In the 2023-24 financial year, 40.59 million passenger journeys were made on Sydney's light rail network, equating to over 110,000 journeys per day. With $2.1 billion committed to stage two of Parramatta Light Rail and continued expansion planned, these safety messages become increasingly critical.

The challenge isn't just about enforcement - it's about changing decades-old habits in a city that forgot how to live with trams. Unlike buses that can swerve or cars that can brake quickly, trams follow fixed tracks and need a significant distance to stop safely.

For older Australians navigating these returning urban fixtures, the message is clear: treat every tram crossing like it could be your last if you don't pay proper attention. The technology may be modern, but the physics remains unforgiving.