Yarra Trams faces calls for safety overhaul after fatal passenger fall

Cath Moore is calling for a policy overhaul and increased accountability from Yarra Trams following the death of her mother, Pauline Moore. In September 2022, the 78-year-old Pauline Moore fell on a route 48 tram in Richmond after the vehicle moved and braked before she could secure herself. The fall resulted in a broken pelvis.

Following the incident, Yarra Trams protocol required the immediate evacuation of the tram so it could return to the depot. This forced Pauline to call for her own ambulance from the footpath. She died two months later from complications sustained during her hospital treatment. Cath Moore has argued that current safety and first aid policies fail to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

Data from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator indicates that between 2016 and 2025, 812 people were injured in incidents on Victorian trams, with eight passenger deaths recorded. However, advocates note that deaths occurring weeks after a fall, such as Pauline Moore’s, may not be fully captured in these specific statistics.