- Cook Labor Government puts forward amendments to train lighting Bill
- Builds upon Cook Labor Government’s unprecedented efforts to improve safety at level crossings
- Western Australia has the highest percentage of actively controlled level crossings in Australia, with no mainline level crossings controlled by Give Way signs
- More than 50 per cent of level crossings are controlled by flashing lights
The Cook Labor Government have put forward amendments to the Private Members Bill to mandate enhanced lighting and visibility on trains to ensure it is practical and safe for the community.
The Rail Safety National Law Application Amendment (Rolling Stock Lighting) Bill 2026 was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill in the Legislative Assembly on 10 June 2026.
While the intent of the Bill is supported, following feedback from industry, user groups, and unions, the Cook Labor Government believes in its current form, it risks making roads and the train network less safe.
Further, the current Bill would be impractical, unworkable, and would risk shutting down tourist and heritage railway operators.
Following consultation with key stakeholders, the Cook Labor Government has put forward amendments to ensure the Bill is workable and safer for the community. These include:
- aligning mandated requirements to Australian standards for rolling stock lighting and visibility;
- requiring beacon and side lighting on lead locomotives, and requiring reflective delineators on freight wagons;
- mandating locomotive lighting at level crossings on public roads where passive controls predominate (i.e. crossings with no flashing lights);
- excluding lines that are ‘closed systems’ that have active controls (e.g. the PTA urban passenger network);
- excluding lines that have minimal passive controls and are low risk (e.g. private Pilbara mining railways);
- removing the ability to fine individual train drivers; and
- providing a way to sunset the WA-based requirements if equivalent standards are mandated nationally.
National interoperability impacts will be limited, as all public road level crossings on the standard-gauge east-west rail line will be actively controlled by the end of this year.
Further, tourist and heritage railway operators will be excluded from the mandate.
The Cook Labor Government is proposing there be a five-year period to comply with the legislation, consistent with the National Regulator’s requirement for its Code of Practice: Train Visibility at Level Crossings.
The WA Labor Government has done more than any other to improve safety at level crossings across Western Australia.
Improvements are being delivered at 460 locations across the State as part of the 2024-29 Level Crossing Capital Works Program, including the installation of increased visibility signage at 378 Stop sign-controlled crossings.
As a result of these upgrades, there are no public road level crossings on mainline railways controlled by Give Way signs within WA.
Further, more than 50 per cent of public road level crossings are controlled by flashing lights or boom gates, one of the highest ratios of active to passive controlled crossings on public roads in Australia.
Western Australia will continue to lead the effort to enhance train lighting nationwide, to ensure consistency across borders.
The revised Australian Standard for Rolling Stock Lighting and Visibility containing the enhanced lighting treatments will be finalised in the coming months.
As stated by Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We have been working hard to improve safety at Western Australian level crossings.
“Western Australia has the highest percentage of actively controlled level crossings in the country, and no mainline level crossings are controlled by Give Way signs.
“I have advised the Leader of the Nationals that the government supports mandatory train lighting and would like to work with them to improve their bill to ensure it will not reduce safety on our roads or rail network.
“Our amendments include using the Australian Standard as the basis of the mandate, and removing the ability for individuals to be fined, which was a key concern raised with me by rail heritage groups and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.
“As the Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure, I have pushed for a national approach to enhanced train lighting, to ensure interoperability and consistency across borders.
“While this continues to be the government’s preference, we will support this legislation and continue working to implement a nationally consistent regime.”
