Sydney light rail trialled sensors after death but scrapped project due to cost before second fatality, whistleblower claims

A warning sign between coupled trams on Sydney’s light rail. A trial of sensors to detect people in this area was scrapped due to costs, a whistleblower alleges. Transdev denies that ‘the assessment’ was shelved. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

The company that operates Sydney’s light rail investigated safety upgrades after a fatal incident in 2023 but cancelled the project due to its cost before a second person died, a whistleblower alleges.

After the first death, Transdev successfully trialled sensors that would detect a person entering the coupling area between two joined trams, according to the former employee who requested anonymity. But the project was stopped before another death in 2025, they said.