Pedestrian Struck by Metro Express Train at Barkly Crossing

A pedestrian was struck by a Metro Express tram in the Barkly area of Mauritius after she attempted to cross the railway tracks, according to a report by Le Défi Media. The incident has raised renewed concerns about safety along the light rail corridor that runs through densely populated parts of the island. **What happened?** The woman was crossing the Metro Express tracks at Barkly — a locality in the central part of Mauritius, close to the town of Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill — when she was hit by an oncoming tram. Details on the severity of her injuries have not been confirmed at this stage. **What is the Metro Express?** The Metro Express is Mauritius's light rail transit system, launched in 2019. It runs approximately 26 kilometres from Port Louis in the north to Curepipe in the south, passing through major towns including Rose-Hill, Quatre Bornes, and Vacoas. Operated by Metro Express Ltd (MEL), a state-owned company, it is the country's first urban rail network and carries tens of thousands of passengers daily. The line runs through some of the island's most densely urbanised corridors, crossing roads, market areas, and pedestrian zones at numerous points. **A recurring safety concern** This is not the first time a pedestrian has been involved in an incident along the Metro Express line. Safety advocates and residents living near the tracks have repeatedly flagged the risks posed at level crossings and informal crossing points, where some pedestrians attempt to cross the rails outside designated areas or ignore warning signals. Barriers, warning lights, and audible alarms are installed at official crossings, but pedestrian behaviour — particularly jaywalking across tracks — remains a significant risk factor. **What this means** As the Metro Express network continues to expand and ridership grows, incidents like this highlight the urgent need for stronger public awareness campaigns around rail safety, improved physical barriers at crossing points, and stricter enforcement to prevent pedestrians from crossing tracks outside designated zones. For residents in towns like Barkly, Rose-Hill, and Quatre Bornes — where the tram passes through busy urban streets — the risks are a daily reality. Authorities have not yet issued an official statement on this specific incident. Le Défi Media, one of Mauritius's leading news groups, first reported the story. Source: Le Défi Media