Police reveal alarming increase in “buffer riding” on Sydney public transport
Image: Youngsters 'buffer riding' on a train in Sydney. NSW Police
by GRACE JOHNSON
NSW Police have revealed an alarming increase in “buffer riding” during the school holidays, prompting the launch of a three-month crackdown on reducing crime on Sydney’s public transport network.
The summer period has seen an increase of incidents where people were riding on the back of trains – known as buffer riding – or on the roofs of the vehicles.
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said there were at least 27 incidents of people buffer or roof riding on light rail vehicles last year and dozens more on trains.
“This is far from harmless fun, or content for a social media reel – it puts the safety of passengers, staff and the person themselves at serious risk,” he said.
“People who hold onto the light rail while on a bike or scooter are duelling with danger,” he continued.
“Despite their name, light rail vehicles weigh a minimum of 40 tonnes when empty, so are anything but light if they make contact with a person, bike, scooter or skateboard.”
The Police Transport and Public Safety Command (PT&PS) launched Operation Rampart on November 27 last year with the assistance of Sydney Trains. The operation will run until 16 February and will specifically target issues such as general anti-social behaviour, assaults, property offences, and buffer riding.
Sydney Trains Head of Security and Intelligence, Jess Sharpe said “Anti-social behaviour and buffer riding cause huge delays to the rail network preventing passengers from getting to work or home in a timely way.”
“We see have seen a rise in buffer riding incidents during the school holidays. Our trains weigh 400 tonnes and travel up to 110km/h. This is an extremely dangerous thing to do. People risk being seriously injured or killed all for a silly thrill. It is not worth it.”
Ms Sharpe emphasised the significant and traumatic ramifications on staff if injuries occur, saying “The impact these stupid acts have on our staff cannot be put into words. They are very traumatic at the very least.”
A crackdown on the dangerous act was previously announced in April 2023. There had been a 13 per cent increase in buffer riding incidents since 2021, and two people had died within the span of 12 months.
At the time, Sydney Trains said eleven people had died because of illegal trespassing in rail corridors in the past five years.
Alarming videos showed youngsters leaping onto the back of trains as they pull away from the station or swinging out of open carriage doors and hoisting themselves onto the roofs of the trains.
One buffer rider told 7News, “I use it as a form of therapy from things going on at home.”
“I had a TikTok of me doing it with a million views,” another said.
With the issue more pertinent than ever during school holidays, PT&PSC South West Commander, Superintendent Mark Wall said, “The message is simple; don’t put your life at risk trying to impress your friends, or with the goal of getting ‘views’ on social media.”
