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People trespassing on and around railways not only risk prosecution, but also endanger their lives and the lives of commuters, Victoria’s regional train operator has said.
V/Line responded to questions about the use of its rail reserve after a Bendigo-bound service smashed into a stranded vehicle near Kangaroo Flat on Wednesday.
A rail reserve is defined as the section of land beside train tracks, the width of which varies across the rail network.
Data obtained from VicTrack shows the reserve at the site of last week’s incident extends about 40 metres either side of the railway.
V/Line spokeswoman Catalina Filip encouraged people who witnessed trespassers or illegal activity trackside to phone police immediately.
“Rail safety is a shared responsibility of everyone in the community and V/Line would like to remind people of the consequences of not keeping safe around trains,” she said.
Resident Narelle, whose house backs onto rail reserve flanking Wednesday’s crash site, said the land was often used by dog walkers, motorcyclists and drivers.
While walkers were not a concern, the mother-of-two said bike riders late at night created unwanted noise.
A dirt track that ran alongside the train line was reason for people to think they could use the space, she said, and there was no visible signage telling people to keep away.
Fences and signage along the length of the railway were not viable, according to V/Line, while a VicTrack spokesman said the land was accessible so maintenance work and signalling could take place.
“Clearly they’re not what people would know as marked roads,” the spokesman said.
Police released the driver of the abandoned vehicle on Friday while investigations continued but expected charges would eventually be laid.
Obstructing a railway carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
Four people were treated for minor injuries at the crash site, but V/Line also warned of “mammoth” side effects to the tracks and trauma to those involved.