Elderly woman's fatal tram fall sparks calls for safety reforms

In September 2022, 78-year-old Pauline Moore slipped and fell on a Yarra Trams route 48 vehicle in Richmond, sustaining a broken pelvis and a second, initially undetected fracture. Because protocol required the tram to be taken out of service, Moore had to call an ambulance from the sidewalk. While hospitalized she acquired a clostridioides difficile infection that ultimately caused her death.

Her daughter, Cath Moore, has been lobbying for more transparent safety and first-aid policies, arguing that drivers are not trained in medical assistance and that passengers who decline help may be left vulnerable. Statistics from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator show 812 tram-related injuries and eight deaths between 2016 and 2025, though deaths linked to falls may be under-reported. Yarra Trams says it is reviewing safety practices, but has not detailed any specific changes made after the incident. Advocacy groups such as COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria echo the call for improved accessibility and on-board support for older riders.