Queensland Rail has issued urgent safety warnings to passengers after a concerning increase in injuries across the South East Queensland network, with Fortitude Valley station recording 12 reported injuries in the past financial year.
The suburb’s railway station ranked third highest for passenger injuries statewide, behind only Brisbane Central with 50 incidents and Roma Street with 38, according to new data released during Rail Safety Week.
The figures represent a significant jump from the previous year, with total customer injuries across the network rising from 299 to 350 incidents during the 2024-25 financial year.
Queensland Rail’s general manager of security and emergency preparedness Drew Brock attributed the spike directly to increased passenger numbers following the introduction of 50-cent fares in August 2024. The fare initiative, which began as a six-month trial before being made permanent in November 2024, led to a 17.9 per cent increase in train patronage compared to the same period in 2023.
“We had 55 million passenger journeys, so since the 50-cent fares came in we have seen new customers coming to the network,” Brock explained during the safety campaign launch.
The majority of incidents involved slips, trips and falls, with outcomes ranging from minor bruising to serious hospitalisations requiring treatment for broken bones. Video footage released by Queensland Rail showed passengers falling between platforms and moving trains, getting caught in closing doors, and tumbling down station stairs.
For Fortitude Valley commuters, the data serves as a stark reminder of the importance of platform safety, particularly given the station’s underground location beneath the Valley Metro complex and its role as a key transport hub for the area’s busy entertainment and business districts.
Brock emphasised that many injuries could be prevented through basic safety awareness. “It really is just a case of using common sense. Don’t rush for the train, there will always be another train. Don’t put yourself at risk by going over the yellow safety line, always stay vigilant,” he said.
Common causes of injuries include passengers taking luggage, bikes, or scooters on escalators instead of using lifts, and people slipping in the gap between trains and platforms at older stations that lack rubber safety barriers.
Queensland Rail has issued key safety recommendations for passengers:
- Stay behind the yellow line until trains come to a complete stop
- Hold children’s hands when travelling and mind the gap
- Use lifts or ramps when carrying large items
- Pay attention to surroundings rather than looking at phones
- Plan journeys and arrive early to avoid rushing
- Use lifts instead of escalators when travelling with bikes, scooters, or heavy luggage
The safety warnings come as public transport use continues to surge across the region. Data shows more than 93.3 million trips have been taken in South East Queensland since the fare reduction began – an increase of 18.3 per cent from the benchmark period in 2023.
While the increased patronage has been welcomed as a sign of the initiative’s success, railway operators stress that safety must remain the priority as more people use the network.
“We see a range of outcomes in these instances all the way from a bruised ego to serious injuries like hospitalisations with broken bones,” Brock warned.
The Rail Safety Week campaign aims to educate both new and existing passengers about platform safety as the network continues to attract record numbers of users taking advantage of the affordable fares.
Published 11-August-2025
