How NSW Adds Major Safety Upgrade to Transport

by Dylan Anderson

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Founder @ CarExplore

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April 14, 2025

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3 min read

Families heading to the Royal Easter Show can now enjoy greater peace of mind, thanks to a major safety upgrade by Sydney Trains. Rubber gap fillers have been installed on all platforms at Olympic Park Station to bridge the space between the train doors and the platform, reducing the risk of falls.

Last year, 15 people fell through the gap at Olympic Park Station, with 13 incidents occurring during the Easter Show period when nearly 400,000 people travelled by train. These incidents highlighted the need for urgent action to improve safety.

Focus on High-Risk Stations

More than half of all falls across the rail network occur at the busiest stations, often involving families with young children on their way to or from major events. In response, Sydney Trains has strategically installed gap fillers at stations with a history of slips, trips, and falls. These include Circular Quay, Town Hall, Martin Place, Wynyard, Bondi Junction, Redfern, Chatswood, Wolli Creek, and Central.

Since the installation of the rubber gap fillers at 26 priority platforms, not a single fall through the gap has been recorded.

Upcoming Installations

The rollout continues with Epping, Lidcombe, Strathfield, Blacktown, Hurstville, and Sydenham stations set to receive the same safety upgrade soon.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

"Childhood memories of the Royal Easter Show should be all about show bags, rides, and the best animals in show — not a frightening fall at the train station on the way."

"We saw the numbers of Easter Show-related falls at Olympic Park last year and have fast-tracked the installation of gap fillers so a trip to the show is as stress-free as possible for the hundreds of thousands of parents getting their families there by train."

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said:

"There has not been a single fall through the gap recorded on any platform where this solution has been rolled out since the program began four years ago."

"There are always big crowds visiting the Easter Show every year, and many of those will arrive by train, so this safety measure will offer parents some added peace of mind."

The safety improvements are part of a broader effort by the NSW Government to make public transport safer and more accessible for all commuters, especially during major events like the Royal Easter Show.