Trapped with women, three children and tourists just before Christmas, fisherman Peter Grory, aged 73, said he was “getting scared”.

He would like to see a Flinders Ports-owned gate near the silos opened so there would be a way out during emergencies.

Mr McGrory said his car had been parked over the other side of the railway tracks next to the water, meaning it was impossible for him to get out.

If the gate next to the silos was opened, he said he would be able to drive up to S.D. Caputo and Sons and get out from there.

Mr McGrory said the timing of the trains, which stop on the tracks while they are filling up, was unpredictable.

He was fearful that someone could have a heart attack or a fall.

“Somebody has got to do something,” he said.

“There is going to be a big accident here if something is not done about it.”

He described the wharf as not only a good fishing place, but also a great meeting place.

But he was concerned about people being unable to go to the toilets, attend appointments or escape in the event of an emergency.

He said there had been 10 or 11 tourists at the fishing location at the time the train was stopped in front of the fishing wharf.

“There were from tourists from Melbourne and Sydney,” he said.

“They were disgusted.”

But a spokesman for Flinders Ports said the gate could not be opened due to maritime rules, and that leaving the gate open would require a change of Federal law.

“There is no chance of the gates being opened,” he said.

The spokesman suggested that the best solution was for the fisherman to check with Viterra when the trains were coming.