77 individuals from 18 different countries, including Canada, USA, Argentina, Japan, Australia and the EU, took part in person and online in the 10th TreSP-Network meeting kindly hosted by the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences of the University of Zagreb.

Speakers and participants exchanged their views on best practices, research projects and technological solutions to prevent rail trespass and suicides.

Dr Ann Mills, from RSSB, Chair of TreSP-Network, presented the UIC working group’s activities and programme of work, including a review of the Restrail toolbox and the coordination of TRESPAD, the Trespass Awareness Day campaign aimed at preventing trespass accidents and incidents. TRESPAD is the second UIC global safety campaign and was set up in June 2022 to follow on from the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD), both coordinated by Isabelle Fonverne (UIC). For more information on RESTRAIL, please click here.

High level speakers took the floor, either in person or online, and included:

• Heather Neil from Tracksafe Australia, who presented the “Trespass and suicide prevention plan in Australia”.
• Nils La Cour, from DSB, Vice-Chair of TreSP-Network, who gave an update on the “Successful implementation of AI solution at DSB to prevent trespassing and suicides on the rail network in Denmark”.
• Our host, Danijela Barić, member of the group and professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, who stressed the importance of collaboration to better tackle the important issues of rail trespass and suicides (and suicide attempts) and save lives. She then introduced the following speakers, as representatives of the whole railway sector in Croatia:
  • Darko Barišić, Member of the Board, HŽ Infrastructure, who shared statistics on trespass and suicide/suicide attempts on the HŽ INFRA network and the mitigation measures put in place: prohibitive signs in stations, on tracks and at level crossings, overpasses, underpasses, fences, awareness and education material (posters and videos), and campaigns, including ILCAD.
  • Želimir Delač, Director of the Croatian National Safety Agency, who explained the role of the NSA in the field of rail safety on both a national and EU level: “Supervision of the railway system in the context of trespass and suicide prevention”.
  • Vladimir Švrljuga, train driver at HŽ Passenger Transport (HŽPP), who shared his experience from a train driver’s perspective: “Trespasses and suicides on the tracks and the consequences for train drivers”. He explained his reactions when confronted with near misses and collisions with trespassers on open lines or with people carelessly crossing in stations or at level crossings, and how he succeeds in being mentally and physically resilient.
  • Sandra Lovrić, Investigator for the Agency for the Investigation of Accidents in Air, Sea and Railway Traffic (AIN), who presented a “Review of rail trespassing and suicide in Croatia”. The National Investigation Body (NIB) is a multimodal agency that independently investigates air, maritime and railway accident/incidents to improve safety. Sandra shared various cases of accidents related to trespass or suicides. Their reports are published on their website.
  • Dinko Levis, Senior crime technician at the Department for investigations and criminal techniques of the Zagreb Police Department, who presented accident investigations from the perspective of the police.

Next, the topic of “Education and Awareness campaigns” was illustrated through presentations by three speakers:

• Tamo Vahemets, Chair of the Board of Operation Lifesaver Estonia, presented OLE’s “Education and awareness campaigns in Estonia: Let the train pass”.
• Wende Corcoran, Vice President of Operation Lifesaver inc., focused on “Education and awareness campaigns on trespassing on and around transit trains and properties in the USA”. She shared information on their activities on a national level, including various videos and posters for children, teenagers and adults (including See Tracks? Think Train!, Rail Transit Crossing Safety and STOP Track Tragedies). She also told participants about their annual “Rail Safety Week”, carried out in cooperation with Operation Lifesaver Canada and Mexico from 23 to 29 September.
• Chris Day, Interim CEO of Operation Lifesaver Canada (in French: Operation Gare au Train) explained the Trespass and Suicide Prevention activities and initiatives in Canada aimed at all members of the public, but directed in particular at indigenous populations.

Then Johan Fredin Knutzen, a specialist in suicide prevention within the transport systems, clinical psychologist, PhD student and psychologist at NASP, the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Sweden) presented: “Assessment made by NASP on behalf of Trafikverket to prevent railway suicides so far, assessed the efforts, and gave recommendations to increase the likelihood of preventing suicides in the future and in alignment with the goal for 2030”.

JR EAST and JR WEST gave a joint presentation on the technological solutions put in place in Japan to prevent people from falling from station platforms, and actions taken to prevent trespass. Takashi OTANI, Senior Manager (East Japan Railway company), presented the “Platform Screen Doors on the JR East network” – Update of the actual number of PSDs and future plan to install them in JR East network”, and Nanto ISHIGURO, Senior Manager (West Japan Railway company), shared “Trespass Prevention – initiatives of JR-West, platform doors and level crossings”.

Scott Gabree and Danielle Hiltunen from the US DOT Volpe Center (USA) shared information on Caltrain’s new practice (Palo Alto case): “Non communicating on suicides to the media: why did the company decide on this?”

Finally, Johan Fredin, from NASP, Sweden, gave some feedback on the 20th European Symposium on suicide and suicidal behaviour that was held in Rome. Please click here to find out more.

The meeting also included a technical visit to ALTPRO’s new premises in Velika Gorica, where the second part of the meeting was held. ALTPRO is a Croatian company that carries out research and development, and manufactures products in the field of level crossing safety, exporting to 54 countries worldwide. Tin Viduka, Member of the Board, said: “It was an honour for us to host TreSP-Network experts in our new high-tech production facility and to show them how our company contributes to the safety of rail traffic on a global level. Our products are tailor-made and developed according to the specific requirements of our partners. This technical meeting gave us the opportunity to show how the needs of our customers are transformed into concrete and innovative products, while satisfying functional, technical and safety aspects.”

On 13 September 2024, at the kind invitation of HŽ Infrastructure, participants had also the opportunity to visit a level crossing on a new electrified line. This included a presentation of the newly implemented equipment, on-site talks addressing trespassing issues and preventative measures, and a brief on-site lecture on interesting lines from the perspective of Croatian railway history.

Save the dates

• The 11th Tresp-Network’s meeting has been set for 5 December 2024
• UIC global rail safety awareness campaigns:
  • TRESPAD (4th edition of the Trespass Awareness Day): 4 June 2025
  • ILCAD (17th edition of the International Level Crossing Awareness Day): 5 June 2025
  • Technical visits: 6 June 2025

These UIC events are co-organised and kindly hosted by Network Rail and RSSB at the British National Railway Museum of York on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the British railways.