A car has come within centimetres of being hit by a tourist train at a level crossing, with new CCTV capturing the split-second near-miss.

CCTV footage captured at the Arthur St crossing in Cairns, Far North Queensland, on June 29 shows a car moving through the crossing as a Kuranda Scenic Railway (KSR) train approaches.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Driver’s terrifying near miss with popular tourist train

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The train sounds its horn as the car moves across its path, narrowly avoiding a devastating collision.

Queensland Rail head of regional Queensland Scott Cornish said the vision showed an “incredibly risky situation”.

“CCTV footage from our Arthur St crossing in Cairns shows where a driver didn’t follow the rules, creating an incredibly risky situation where they narrowly missed our KSR train,” he said.

The near-miss is not an isolated incident, with the KSR also involved in collisions with cars at Cairns’ Grove St crossing on December 30, 2025, and Upward St crossing on January 8, 2026.

A car collided with the Kuranda Scenic Railway at Cairns’ Grove St level crossing on December 30, 2025. Credit: Queensland Rail

The Kuranda Scenic Railway was involved in a collision with a car at Cairns’ Upward St level crossing on January 8, 2026. Credit: Queensland Rail

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of Tropical North Queensland’s signature tourist experiences, carrying visitors through the rainforest and Barron Gorge to Kuranda, with many combining the heritage train journey with a return trip on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway high above the canopy.

The incident comes as Queensland Rail warns motorists to take extra care at level crossings during Rail Safety Week, which runs from August 10 to 16.

The warning follows an increase in near misses across Queensland Rail’s regional network.

Queensland Rail recorded 127 near-misses at level crossings in the last financial year, up from 116 the previous year.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway travels through the lush rainforest towards Kuranda in Far North Queensland, a popular tourist experience often paired with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Credit: Kuranda Scenic Railway

Cornish said the consequences of a collision would extend well beyond the people directly involved.

“These incidents don’t just affect the people involved and their families, it impacts our train crew, the people on the train and the first responders attending to the situation,” he said.

The Track Safe campaign is highlighting the potential impact of level crossing incidents on train drivers, passengers, emergency crews and the wider community.

“Level crossings are safe when everyone follows the rules, however people are still not following the rules all the time creating risk for themselves and the people on the trains,” Cornish said.

He urged road users to slow down and obey warning signs at every crossing.

“The message this Rail Safety Week is simple, when roads cross rails, follow the signs,” he said.

“Taking a few extra seconds to stop may save a life.”