Home and Away is preparing to unleash one of the most harrowing and emotionally charged chapters in its 38-year history, as the long-running Australian soap returns

with the full fallout from last year’s jaw-dropping train disaster cliffhanger. According to series star Tristan Gorey, who plays Dr. Levi Fowler, viewers should

brace themselves—because what comes next is bigger, darker, and far more devastating than anyone expects.

“It’s going to be one hell of a ride,” Gorey revealed, teasing the scale and intensity of the episodes ahead. And judging by what the show has already promised, that may be an understatement.

The season finale left fans reeling when a packed train carrying dozens of Summer Bay residents derailed en route to a music festival, erupting into chaos, terror, and mass injury. The crash wasn’t just a spectacle—it was a narrative earthquake, designed to change lives forever. When the series resumes this week, the story picks up in the immediate aftermath, with lives hanging in the balance and split-second decisions determining who survives and who doesn’t.

Levi Fowler was among the many locals trapped aboard the doomed train, alongside familiar faces including Justin, Mackenzie, Remi, Abigail, Dana, Sunny, Lacy, Jo, and Eddie. As emergency crews race against time, it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary disaster storyline. According to Gorey, the train crash is a turning point—“a fork in the road for some, and the end of the road for others.”

That chilling assessment sets the tone for what’s to come.

With the train’s structure unstable and at risk of further collapse, every moment is a gamble. Fire, twisted metal, and crushed carriages transform the wreckage into a deadly maze. Panic spreads as survivors attempt to locate loved ones, while responders are forced to make impossible choices about who they can reach in time.

An official synopsis reveals that David, Cash, Levi, and Tane are all on-site, navigating the carnage in a desperate attempt to save lives—while knowing that people they care about are still trapped inside the derailed train. The emotional stakes couldn’t be higher. These aren’t faceless victims; they’re family, friends, partners, and colleagues.

For Levi, the situation is especially brutal. As a doctor, he’s trained to remain calm under pressure—but this disaster pushes him to his limits. He’s forced to operate in makeshift conditions, triaging the wounded while fearing for his own survival and that of those closest to him. Gorey hints that Levi’s experience in the wreckage will leave lasting scars, testing not just his medical skills but his emotional resilience.

“Not everyone will make it out unscathed,” Gorey warned. “A lot of well-loved characters’ lives are in danger.”

The production behind the scenes was just as intense as what viewers will see onscreen. The dramatic crash sequences were filmed on location in rural New South Wales and rank among the most ambitious in Home and Away’s history. Dozens of extras were drafted in to portray injured passengers and emergency responders, creating a scale rarely seen in the show’s four-decade run.

“The locations team found some phenomenal spots,” Gorey explained. “And the art department did an amazing job building the train sets and the crash itself.”

The realism, however, came at a cost. Filming took place in the dead of winter, and despite the show being set in the perpetually sunny Summer Bay, the cast and crew battled freezing conditions.

“We were rugged up with thermal blankets and several layers,” Gorey said. “But it was still absolutely freezing. There was nothing summer about it.”

That discomfort, however, only added to the authenticity of the scenes. The raw performances born out of exhaustion, cold, and adrenaline translate into visceral television—placing viewers right in the heart of the disaster.

But the train crash is only the beginning.

The explosive return sets the stage for what is shaping up to be a monumental year for Home and Away. In addition to the fallout from the disaster, fans have another major reason to tune in: the highly anticipated return of fan-favorite characters Brax and Ricky.

Their comeback was filmed last year in Western Australia as part of a special storyline event, and it promises to inject fresh energy, nostalgia, and new conflict into the series. The timing couldn’t be more deliberate. As Summer Bay reels from tragedy, familiar faces from the past resurface—bringing unresolved history with them.

The show’s continued dominance proves that these high-stakes storytelling choices are resonating. Home and Away currently draws around three million Australian viewers each week, a remarkable feat in today’s fragmented television landscape. Last year’s movie-length season finale featuring the train crash attracted more than 1.4 million viewers, cementing its status as a major television event.

Seven’s Director of Content Scripted, Julie McGauran, praised the series’ enduring success, calling it a testament to the dedication of its cast and crew.

“Home and Away produces around 230 episodes every year,” she said, “delivering quality Australian drama that continues to resonate deeply with audiences.”

McGauran also confirmed that 2026 will begin with a bang for fans, with the fate of many beloved Summer Bay residents still uncertain and the Brax and Ricky storyline unfolding as part of a Western Australian special event filmed in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.

For longtime viewers, the message is clear: Home and Away is not pulling its punches.

The train disaster isn’t just a cliffhanger resolved—it’s a narrative reset that will ripple through relationships, careers, and the emotional core of the show. Survivors will carry guilt, grief, and trauma. Some bonds will strengthen under pressure, while others may fracture beyond repair. And for those who don’t survive, their absence will leave a permanent void in Summer Bay.

As Tristan Gorey’s ominous words suggest, this storyline marks a defining moment—one that proves Home and Away is still capable of shocking, devastating, and captivating audiences nearly four decades on.

When the train wreckage finally settles, Summer Bay will never be the same again.