Ethan Griffiths’ family campaign for rail safety after apprentice killed in motorbike-train crash in NSW

A motorbike rider killed in a crash with a freight train just minutes from his home has been remembered as a gifted young man who will be sorely missed by his family.

Ethan Griffiths, 21, died at the scene of the collision at a railway crossing on Twigg Rd, Yenda, in the Riverina region of NSW, just before 5.30pm on September 2.

His mother is now appealing for safety upgrades at that crossing and pushing for sweeping improvements across country NSW and beyond “with the aim of saving innocent lives”.

Griffiths is being remembered as a talented second-year apprentice mechanic who “soaked up knowledge” and had a “thirst for learning”.

Around the family home he was a father figure to his three siblings, aged 11, 15, and 20.

“He was a mentor to them and looked out for them at school and in social situations,” mother Jaime Griffiths told 7NEWS.com.au.

“He was a genuine big brother who always put his brothers and sisters first.”

Griffiths’ long-term dream was to run his own workshop.

Family said his “determined and hardworking” personality would have ensured he accomplished that goal one day.

Griffiths died in the latter stages of a 570km ride home from Sydney, where he had been visiting his dad.

Loved ones say he was a responsible person and rider who stopped regularly to rest and check in with his mum.

His last text message to her came three hours before the fatal accident when he had pulled over in Yass.

He told her he was safe and his next update would come when he finished the journey.

His mother’s reply was to say “it’s a bit windy so ride carefully”.

He died just a few kilometres from his home.

There are more than 23,000 railway level crossings in Australia, where tracks cross a road or footpath.

About 80 per cent of them are considered passive, meaning they have stop or give way signs but are void of boom gates or flashing lights to warn of incoming trains.

From July 2014 to the end of 2022, a total of 322 collisions were recorded at level railway crossings in Australia, according to figures included in a train safety petition tabled to federal parliament in July.

Of those crashes, 39 resulted in fatalities to people in road vehicles or pedestrians. A further 49 were seriously injured. There were also thousands more near-misses.

Griffiths’ family is campaigning for change at the crossing where he died and more broadly.

An online fundraiser has been set up to help cover funeral costs and support their advocacy work.

The family has written to their local member, the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) and the TrackSAFE Foundation.

The crossing where Ethan died is equipped with signs warning of a railway crossing and advising drivers to “look for trains”.

His family said the site cops blinding light from the setting sun in the afternoon and is particularly hazardous for approaching traffic because it lacks lights, gates and bells.

They believe all these factors played a role in his death.

“This is a tragedy that could been avoided which is why it is so hard,” his mum said.

“He was in the prime of his life.”

The ONRSR said it is “investigating the circumstances” around the fatality on September 2.

“This work includes examinations at the scene and conducting regulatory activities with the rolling stock operator and the road manager and making further enquiries in collaboration with NSW Police,” a spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.

“ONRSR will be in a position to provide additional details when those activities are complete.

“ONRSR is currently collating additional information in relation to level crossing safety initiatives and support available to the family and friends of Ethan, which will be sent to them as soon as possible.”

‘Catalyst for change’

The Griffiths family said they had received incredible support from Lara Jensen, spokesperson for the Improve Train Lighting and Passive Level Crossing Safety group.

Jensen has been fighting for improvements since her brother and two friends were killed at a train crossing in WA’s Wheatbelt in 2000.

Country music star Lee Kernaghan used a social media post in July to support the West Australian and call on his fans to back a petition for mandatory lighting requirements for trains.

“The families of these young people are still fighting with government departments to turn this horrific tragedy into the catalyst for a change in laws which will undoubtedly save the lives of other Australians living in the bush,” he said.

“The petition calls on the Australian parliament to immediately implement legislation requiring mandatory rotating beacons on the front of trains and lighting on the side of locomotives and rolling stock to improve safety at unlit level crossings.”

The campaign has been tabled in federal parliament.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said “our thoughts are with all those affected” by the young rider’s death.

King said level crossings “remain the highest public safety risk on the rail network”, and pointed to the release earlier this year of the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy, which sets out a “clear vision for working towards zero harm”.

The minister also revealed earlier this year the NSW government was in line for $28 million under the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund (RLCUF), aiming to improve railway crossing safety in regional areas.

The federal government has committed $160 million over four years to co-fund crossing upgrades across the country and 23 projects in regional NSW were included in the first round of funding.

“This funding will provide upgrading of treatments such as signage, boom gates, flashing lights and rumble strips, to better alert motorists and pedestrians approaching regional railway crossings,” King said in February.

The TrackSAFE Foundation has called on state and federal authorities to “allocate more resources for awareness campaigns, infrastructure changes (and) the rapid rollout of new trials and installation of new technologies to improve safety”.

“Improving safety at railway crossings is complex and requires governments, road and infrastructure managers, rail operators, drivers and pedestrians to all play their part,” executive director Heather Neil said.

A report into Griffiths’ death will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with any information should contact Crime Stoppers.