Markets 
Weather 
Officials say rail boom gates are designed to snap upwards when hit, after dramatic video emerged of a level-crossing gate lifting before a train smashed into a car in Melbourne’s inner-north.
The dashcam footage of the February 25 incident in Brunswick was posted to X on Monday afternoon. It shows the silver Mercedes slowly travelling toward the closed rail crossing.
The car then appears to jolt forward and touch the boom gate, which swings upwards. Seconds later the passenger train hits the front of the car, propelling it into a nearby fence. The barrier on the other side of the road remained closed, and the safety lights continued to flash during the incident.
A Metro Trains spokesperson said that boom gates are designed to snap upwards when hit so that they don’t fly into the path of oncoming trains.
“Boom gates, lights and bells play a critical safety role at level crossings as they indicate a train approaching. Cars are to remain in a safe position until the train has passed and the boom gates lift,” they said.
The 89-year-old driver was the sole occupant of the car. He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the crash and released a few hours later.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said that they were not responsible for boom gate operation, but in a statement released at the time of the crash said that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
“It is understood a silver Mercedes drove through barriers onto the train tracks and while stationary, the front of the car was struck by a train at the railway station, about 11.50am,” the statement said.
The incident caused havoc on Melbourne’s train network at the time, with services on the Upfield Line suspended and replaced by buses.
The level crossing at Brunswick Station is one of the crossings that has been slated for removal by the state government. It is due to be decommissioned by 2030.
Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
From our partners
Read the full article here
