TWO PROTESTERS locked themselves to the top of a coal train on the Hunter Valley Rail Network and another climbed onto a freight train to disrupt Melbourne operations on Thursday.
Thursday was the fourth day of protests from climate activism group Blockade Australia. Since Monday morning protesters have scaled a coal loader, abseiled off a bridge, blocked highways and rail lines in and around the ports of Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle.
On Thursday morning, protesters Ayla (16) and Kalpa (64) were atop a coal train on the Hunter Valley network, according to Blockade Australia’s Facebook page.
And another protester, Jacinta (62), had climbed onto a freight train on a line connecting to the Port of Melbourne, reportedly halting rail operations.
Her livestream shows police and “first responders” at the foot of the train, attempting to bring her down.
“They’re asking me to get down,” she said. “I can’t get down. I’ll wait.”
NSW Police confirmed later on Thursday that two people had been charged following an unauthorised protest in the Hunter Valley.
Police said emergency services were called to Rose Point Road, Singleton, at 0600 following reports two people had climbed on top of a train carriage near Singleton Railway Station.
“Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and, with assistance from specialist police, removed a 64-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl from on top of the train,” they said in a statement.
“They were arrested and taken to Singleton Police Station, where they were both charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock and enter enclosed non-agricultural lands serious safety risk.
“The woman was refused bail where the matter was mentioned at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Thursday 22 June 2023). She was refused bail to reappear tomorrow (Friday 23 June 2023) at Singleton Local Court.
“The teenager was granted strict conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday 17 July 2023.”
