By Chloe Henville

ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt

Topic: State and Territory Parliament

Monday, 8 June 2026, at 10:15 am

A new bill aims to make rail crossings safer by improving train lighting.

In short:

The WA opposition will introduce a bill to make trains have better lighting.

This is after many years of people asking for safer rail crossings with flashing lights and reflectors.

What's next:

The bill will be discussed in the WA parliament in August.

The WA opposition wants to make rail safety better with a new bill to improve train lighting.

The bill will make sure trains have flashing beacons, side lights, and more reflectors.

'We must act now'

The new bill will help make 'passive' rail crossings safer, where only a stop or give-way sign is used.

There are over 20,000 level crossings in Australia, and about 80% of them are 'passive', which is why safer lighting is needed.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said making rail safety better is a priority.

WA Nationals leader Shane Love said while a national change is preferred, the state needs to act now.

Shane Love thinks the national law should be improved to make rail safety better.

This bill will make Western Australia a leader in rail safety and protect people in regional areas.

Decades of sadness

Lara Jensen has been fighting for rail safety since her brother and two friends died in a level crossing crash 26 years ago.

Lara Jensen has been working with other families who lost loved ones in crashes to make rail safety better.

The WA State Coroner recommended strobe lighting on trains after the crash.

Ms Jensen is happy about the new bill, saying it's long overdue.

She said she has been living with the consequences of a system that doesn't prioritize visibility and safety.

A newspaper article from 2004 asked the government to make lighting on trains mandatory.

For decades, families like mine have been asking for a simple change: put lights on trains. We've had reviews and promises, but no action.

The bill will be discussed in August.

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Monday, 8 June 2026, at 10:15 am

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