Greens highlight rail safety after car darts through crossing during announcement
Green Party co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson were interrupted by a vehicle that sped through a level crossing as a train approached during a rail-safety press event.
At a rail-safety briefing on Auckland's Western Line, Green co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson witnessed a vehicle breach a lowered barrier and flash lights at the Morningside crossing, coming within seconds of an approaching train. Swarbrick used the near-miss to illustrate why the Greens want all level crossings removed, a move they say would enable higher train frequencies and ease road congestion. The proposal, still unfunded, is part of a broader plan being consulted on by Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.
Between 2013 and 2023, Auckland level crossings recorded dozens of crashes and hundreds of near-miss incidents involving pedestrians and vehicles. Transport officials warn that existing crossings limit train capacity and cause frequent road delays during peak periods.
Why it matters
The incident underscores safety risks at Auckland level crossings and highlights the Greens' push for infrastructure changes that could improve rail capacity and road flow.
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