A THIRD accident has occurred at Werribee’s Cherry Street level crossing in 13 days.
A woman aged in her 20s was hit by a city-bound train while crossing the tracks about 11.30pm last Wednesday.
She was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident came a week after a car was collected by a boom gate at the crossing, causing morning peak-hour delays.
On May 25, a Truganina woman, 65, was killed at the crossing when a freight train hit the car in which she was a passenger. The driver, a woman in her 30s, escaped from the vehicle and was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
It is believed a car in front had broken down on the tracks.
Investigations are continuing into all three incidents.
As reported by the Weekly, Public Transport Victoria has ruled out making any formal push for the crossing to be upgraded until investigations are complete.
Anton Mayer, chief executive of regional development lobby group LeadWest, said it was time the state government began grade separating level crossings in the western suburbs.
“Of course it will improve traffic flow but we need to look at it as a road safety issue.
“We’ve got to think of it in a more holistic sense. It’s good public policy. We do continue to have a lot of mishaps [at the crossings].”
Mr Mayer said crossings in Wyndham and Brimbank were of particular concern and it was disappointing they continued to be overlooked.
“It’s a constant source of disappointment [that they aren’t funded]. The needs of the community in the west are not being tackled,” he said.
