Train Accident, Central West NSW

[JDNSW]

There are news reports that this morning at about 11.45 the Dubbo XPT hit an excavator near Newbridge (close to Blayney) killing the driver of the excavator. Nobody on the train is reported to have been injured, but the driver is being treated for shock. Police have confirmed that it is not at a level crossing, and it seems the excavator and driver were working for ARTC. The train is reported to have suffered only minor damage and to be still on the track.

The location is difficult to access, and reports say the passengers had to walk three kilometres to Newbridge station to continue by bus.

John

[shaunh]

one passenger got a cut on his head
the passengers were made to stay on the train because of liabilty
train doesnt look bad at all

Shaun

[JDNSW]

According to the local news on Prime just now, all passengers and crew were held on the train for three and a half hours before the train returned to Bathurst, where they were unloaded onto buses. Pictures show an overturned Landcruiser as well as the excavator, apparently both pushed off the track on a high embankment. Good visibility, the train must have been travelling at normal speed not to have seen them and stopped. Usually it slows right down where there is work on the tracks. Communication breakdown?

John

[p38arover]

Sounds like improper protection for the work group was in place.

Normally, if an excavator is in use near the line (where it could connect with a train), we have blocks on to prevent entry by a train into the section. We don't lift the blocks until the protection officer tells us they are clear of the track.

We are particuarly careful of excavators (in the Sydney area) owing to the possiblity that the boom could hit the overhead wiring.

This is the second NSW track worker death in the past couple of weeks.

[JDNSW]

Sounds like improper protection for the work group was in place.

Normally, if an excavator is in use near the line (where it could connect with a train), we have blocks on to prevent entry by a train into the section. We don't lift the blocks until the protection officer tells us they are clear of the track.

We are particuarly careful of excavators (in the Sydney area) owing to the possiblity that the boom could hit the overhead wiring.

This is the second NSW track worker death in the past couple of weeks.

How long would the section be in that area?

John

[p38arover]

Dunno John. I've never worked it. I can't ask my son either - he used to work for ARTC at Orange and Broadmeadow.

[drivesafe]

Hi JDNSW, the sections use to be 8 miles but as sections were joined ( removed ) 16 miles is common but as Railpage is down ( looks like permanently, shame ) bit hard to get accurate info.

One point though, in my day, when ever someone was working near or on the right of way, three detonators were placed on the tracks, a safe braking distance form the work site, but this is not done these days as it cost too much to do and the public doesn’t like the noise.

If it had been in place two weeks ago, the contractor at Kogarah would still be alive, and a good chance this poor excavator driver would be too.

But what the hell, the Labour Party is saving money!

[incisor]

But what the hell, the Labour Party is saving money!
i thought that nsw was a train wreck under both sides of politics in recent history... ;)

[twitchy]

Is a pity & as the old man said today some one is going to get the holy grails of pineapples for this one!!!

Will have to ask dad the length of sections near Bathurst as I can't remember.

[p38arover]

We won't hear the outcome until the Australian Transport Safety Board (Australian Transport Safety Bureau (http://www.atsb.gov.au/)) investigates.

It's only Feb 2010 since the last serious incident (possible head-on crash) out there with the XPT. See http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2010/rair/ro-2010-002.aspx

There was another near head on withj an XPT and the Indian Pacific in the same area last year. That was attributed to the train controller at ARTC Broadmeadow. See http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2009/rair/ro-2009-002.aspx (A Special Proceed Authority allows a train to run the wrong way on a track. When doing so, it runs without signals as they are facing the wrong way. Not to be confused with tracks which are fitted with signals for bi-directional operation.)

[JDNSW]

Thinking overnight about it, I wonder if the excavator and Landcruiser were not supposed to be on the rail track, but travelling along the track at the foot of the embankment - but took a shortcut along the embankment as the track along the foot was in poor condition due to the rain overnight, or just figured it would be quicker.

John

[Tote]

How long would the section be in that area?

John

Section is from Georges Plains - Newbridge. Wimbeldon, about 3 Ks from the site of the incident was abolished years ago.
Regards,
Tote

[dobbo]

I love hindsight experts, they have the ability to look out of one persons arse, whilst shoving their nose up another persons and simultaniously talking out of their own. All of these different arses, yet their world is full of smiles and the smells of roses.


I'd like to see these experts attempt at one shift.


Facts are, we weren't in the room nor the drivers seat so we don't know what happened in either scenerio, facts are we can not change what happened in either scenerio.

[p38arover]

Dunno, Matt.

There was a failure to protect by someone or something. It may not have been a signaller at fault. It may not have been the worksite Protection Officer.

It may have been a signalling fault.

We won't know until after the investigation report is tabled.

[LowRanger]

There has to have been a series of failures.As there should have been a blocking facility in place to start with.There should also have been protection in place on the tracks,to warn workers of any approaching traffic.There should have been a protection officer on site,with a full protection plan.And YES,detonators are still used in NSW.As a matter of fact,after the accident,the crew in the train ,were required to protect the train,by placing detonators on the tracks.So there either had to be systemic failures OR the excavator wasn't meant to be on the tracks??????

Wayne

[p38arover]

With any accident, there are a series of events that lead up to it.

The James Reason Model (see University of New South Wales - UNSW - Seeking and finding organisational accident causes: Comments on the Swiss cheese model (http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/about/articles/swisscheese.html) ) gives a Swiss cheese scenario. When all the holes line up in slices of Swiss cheese, an "arrow" can pass through and an incident occurs. It only takes one "slice" to be moved, e.g., detonators protecting the worksite, and the accident may/will not occur.

[abaddonxi]

With any accident, there are a series of events that lead up to it.

The James Reason Model (see University of New South Wales - UNSW - Seeking and finding organisational accident causes: Comments on the Swiss cheese model (http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/about/articles/swisscheese.html) ) gives a Swiss cheese scenario. When all the holes line up in slices of Swiss cheese, an "arrow" can pass through and an incident occurs. It only takes one "slice" to be moved, e.g., detonators protecting the worksite, and the accident may/will not occur.

Some people might say that putting something strong enough to withstand the impact of an arrow in your Swiss cheese could be classified as an accident in its own right.:angel: