XPT derailment Wallan 20th February 2020

[ozbob]

Appears there is now an 80 km/h speed limit on the NE line from Wodonga to Melbourne.  The XPT is unable to keep to timetable.

The first overnight service SYD to MEL is around an hour late into Melbourne.  Last night's MEL to SYD is around 3 hours late into Sydney this morning. 

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MEL to SYD XPT about to depart from Southern Cross station last evening (29th Feb 2020).

https://twitter.com/kickass1456/status/1233733531261534208

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https://twitter.com/jxeeno/status/1233674740973178881

https://twitter.com/jxeeno/status/1233734320738557952

[Old Northern Road]

Not sure how old this video is

[ozbob]

^ thanks.  Dated 2016.  Interesting ..

The standard gauge loop points at Wallan can be picked up around 34 minutes 30 seconds into the video.

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Theft of copper wire during North East Rail Line repairs around Wallan

Repairs to the North East Rail Line around Wallan were completed on Friday 28 February, with the first Melbourne-Brisbane freight service passing through at 2.50am Friday morning.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will be implementing an interim 80 km/h speed limit on the line between Melbourne and Albury for all passenger and freight services.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has written to the corporation to request an additional independent review focused on track condition, which the ARTC said in a statement "we understand and support".

ARTC senior managers will ride in the cabs of freight and passenger trains between Albury and Melbourne through this week in order to assess the ride condition from the locomotive cab and to engage with train drivers.

"While this is something our management does regularly, it is even more important at this time," Fullerton said.

Fullerton is calling on any members of the community who have knowledge of, or saw suspicious behaviour between Wallan and Donnybrook before 1am on Saturday 29th February to contact Crime Stoppers.

More than 2.4km of copper signalling wire was stolen by thieves between Wallan and Donnybrook in the early hours of Saturday morning, which resulted in 60-90-minute delays to all rail services.

Fullerton said it is disheartening that thieves would seek to take advantage of such a situation.

Between July 2017 to July 2019 there were 231 incidents of copper line wire theft along the ARTC rail corridor between Craigieburn in Victoria and Sydney.

This has resulted in hard costs of around $600,000 in rectification, but further cost and impacts via significant delays to train services, call out time for staff responding, additional driver and staffing hours, late freight deliveries, and costs to passenger customer time.

From these incidents, ARTC reported that 77 per cent resulted in train delays to the network.

ARTC stated that the focused area of theft in Victoria is between Craigieburn in Melbourne's north to Chiltern, south of the VIC/NSW border.

52 per cent of the incidents occurred within a roughly 40km stretch of track north of Melbourne according to the ARTC.

Major work continues part of the $235m North East Rail Line upgrade, including track quality improvements such as resurfacing and new ballast, and putting overhead wires underground to decrease the risk of line wire theft.

An ARTC spokesperson said site set up and establishment of the major contractor's office commenced in December and works have started, commencing from Wodonga, moving south.

Ballast trains have been delivering ballast to various work sites for a number of weeks.

"In addition, a targeted track tamping program has been operating since October 2019 and 130km of tamping has been completed. Two track tamping machines are stationed in North East Victoria for ongoing use, achieving an average of around 5km of track tamping per day," an ARTC spokesperson said.

In addition to conducting repairs, ARTC have been assisting investigations into the XPT Wallan derailment that were launched by the Victorian Coroner, ATSB and the ONRSR.

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Rail Express --> Union supports speed restrictions in Wallan following fatal derailment

The Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) stated that it is pleased that the rail industry is taking the union's concerns seriously.

The union wrote to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), Pacific National, V/Line and NSW Trains to request detailed information regarding plans for resuming services services through Wallan following the fatal XPT derailment last week.

ARTC advised the union on Thursday, February 27 that it would be imposing a 20km/h speed limit through Wallan. It also advised that the signalling infrastructure through Wallan was now operational.

Pacific National has advised the RTBU that it has imposed an 90km/h speed restriction between Seymour and Albury, and drivers are being instructed to adhere to an ARTC's temporary speed restriction of 20km/h.

An RTBU spokesperson said the union's Victorian branch has commenced discussions with V/Line, and the union's NSW branch has also begun discussions with NSW Trains.

"At this point, we're pleased that ARTC, PN, V/Line and NSW Trains are taking our concerns seriously. In particular, the companies have taken action on our concerns regarding track speed and signalling," an RTBU spokesperson said.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has inspected the corridor and consented to the recommissioning of the track.

An ARTC spokesperson said services on the North East Rail Line resumed on Friday, February 28, with the first Melbourne-Brisbane freight service passing through at 2.50am on Friday morning.

An RTBU spokesperson said there are still more questions that need to be answered.

"It is important that all workers involved in services along the corridor are fully informed, and are able to raise any safety-related concerns," an RTBU spokesperson said.

On Monday, March 2, John Fullerton, ARTC CEO appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Canberra to address ARTC's response over the past eleven days following the XPT derailment.

Fullerton said despite working hard to prevent accidents and prepare extensively in case they happen, the worst possible outcome happened earlier this month.

He said over the past 11 days, ARTC have supported staff and contractors, been working with emergency services and Transport for NSW to safely remove the train, repairing the track so it is available again for use and cooperating with investigations underway.

"In terms of supporting staff and contractors, many of our staff personally knew the people who were killed in the accident, and many others were involved in the first response," Fullerton said to the committee.

"We are very aware of the potential impact that this could have on staff, and have been widely advising those who need to, to access the services they need through our Employee Assistance Program. We have also been asking them to take care of one another."

Fullerton said the industry collectively owes it to John Kennedy, the driver from Canberra, and Sam Meintanis, the pilot from Castlemaine, to work with the investigators to understand what happened and what actions need to be taken to prevent it ever happening again, as they were "two employees in our industry who went to work and never came home".

He said ARTC has been providing full support to investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), ONRSR and the Victorian coroner.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Upgrades for North East Rail Line delayed for months before Wallan train crash

As authorities piece together what caused the deadly train derailment at Wallan, it's been revealed a long-awaited upgrade to a troubled section of track between Melbourne and Albury had been delayed by a year.

A long-awaited upgrade to a troubled section of track between Melbourne and Albury had been delayed by a year, with early works beginning just months before a deadly derailment at Wallan.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation, which operates the corridor, has been grilled during Senate Estimates in Canberra quality concerns on the busy line

It comes as authorities piece together the cause behind the horrific crash.

ARTC chief executive John Fullerton said a $235 million upgrade project to fix rough riding on the network had been delayed from its 2018 start date.

"We worked as quickly as we could to get the North East Link project underway," he said.

"But we wanted to do it in a very methodical way to ensure we got the best possible outcome in relation to the scope of works that had been agreed by ARTC and the state of Victoria.

"A lot of the early works really started in October 2019."

Safety investigators are still probing the fatal derailment in which two people died and a dozen were injured.

Repair work was scheduled in the Wallan area at the time of the crash and it is believed the train was travelling well above the posted speed when it came off the tracks.

Authorities are investigating whether staff were aware of speed restrictions in place but will also assess other safety precautions and the quality of the track along the corridor.

Mr Fullerton told estimates the ARTC spent $6 million each year maintaining the tracks but said commuters had raised their own concerns about the railway.

Sections were upgraded 2016 but passenger trips began to deteriorate again in 2018.

"There has always been a concern expressed by the community and by senators at these hearings around the ride quality of the track as it relates to passenger services," Mr Fullerton said.

"That led to work beginning, I think back in 2017, on the investment that would be needed to improve the ride quality.

"The attention was very much focused on the service being offered to commuters on that Albury to Melbourne corridor.

"We collectively owe it to John Kennedy, the driver from Canberra, and Sam Meintanis, the pilot from Castlemaine, to work with the investigators to understand what happened."

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ATSB

Derailment of NSW TrainLink XPT passenger train ST23 at Wallan, Victoria, on 20 February 2020

Investigation number: RO-2020-002

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/rair/ro-2020-002/

Summary:

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in collaboration with the Victorian Government's Chief Investigator, Transport Safety (CITS), is investigating the derailment of the XPT passenger train ST23 near Wallan, Victoria on 20 February 2020.

Victoria's Chief Investigator, Transport Safety will lead the investigation, under delegation from the ATSB, with support from the ATSB as well as New South Wales' Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI). CITS conducts rail investigations in Victoria on behalf of the ATSB under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.

As part of the investigation, investigators will examine the track infrastructure, the XPT power cars and carriages, and map the accident layout. The ATSB will also obtain and analyse available information and records, including the train data logger, signaling data, and maintenance records for the train and track infrastructure. Further, investigators will consider vehicle crashworthiness and human factor aspects, and interview involved parties and witnesses.

A final report will be released at the end of the investigation.

Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify those affected and seek safety action to address the issue.

Any passengers and witnesses who may have any information, photographs and video they feel is of relevance to the investigation are asked to contact the ATSB by calling 1800 992 986 (then press 1).

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https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1245865160310321154

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Derailment of XPT ST23, Wallan, Victoria, on 20 February 2020

Interim Report

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/rair/ro-2020-002/

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ABC News --> XPT passenger train doing 130kph in 15kph zone before fatal derailment at Wallan: report

Key points:

The train derailed near Wallan in February 2020, killing the train driver and train pilot

The train was travelling at more than 100 kilometres per hour in a 15kph zone when it came off the tracks

Investigators have made eight interim observations in response to facts detailed in the report ...

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> National, NSW rail operators in court after Wallan train derailment killed two $

Rail transport operators responsible for the safe running of the XPT Sydney-to-Melbourne service allegedly failed to ensure train drivers were aware of a temporary track change before a service carrying 153 passengers crashed at speed near Wallan, killing two staff members.

The National Rail Safety Regulator alleges extra safety measures used on tracks when normal signals are down were not in place, nor were the driver and other employees made aware the line would diverge at Wallan. ...

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ATSB --> Wallan train derailment investigation final report details breakdown in risk management processes

A breakdown in risk management processes contributed to the derailment of an XPT passenger train at Wallan, Victoria, a transport safety investigation report has found.

NSW Trainlink XPT passenger train ST23 was operating a service from Sydney to Melbourne on 20 February 2020 when it derailed entering a crossing loop at a speed of between 114 and 127 km/h, when the maximum permitted speed to enter the loop was 15 km/h.

The train's leading power car overturned and slid on its side before coming to rest, and the driver and an accompanying qualified worker (who was in the power car alongside the driver to manage activation of a level crossing) did not survive the accident. Eight passengers were admitted to hospital with serious injuries, while a reported 53 passengers and the 5 passenger service crew sustained minor injuries.

An ATSB transport safety investigation into the accident, led by Victoria's Chief Investigator, Transport Safety, and supported by the New South Wales Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI), details 37 findings including 15 safety issues (an organisational or systemic safety factor with an identified on-going risk to safety).

The investigation details that a fire in a signalling hut earlier in the month meant that rail infrastructure manager ARTC had put in place administrative arrangements where train authority documents (paper forms) gave train drivers permission to travel through a 24 km section of track between Kilmore East and Donnybrook section while the signalling system was inoperative.

At Kilmore East, where the AQW also boarded the train, the driver of ST23 was provided with a modified train authority document that included information on the routing of the train through Wallan Loop.

Trains were being sent through Wallan loop on 20 February to remove contaminants from the track prior to testing of repairs to the signalling system.

"In the 12 days prior to the accident, the driver had operated the XPT service through Wallan 8 times, and on all occasions the crossing loop was locked out of service, this has led us to believe they probably expected to remain on the straight track, where the speed limit was 130Km/h through Wallan," said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.

"However, there was no protocol in place to confirm the driver's understanding of the revised instruction, with no requirement for the driver to read back or confirm the instructions to the network control officer."

Train working arrangements to manage traffic while the signalling system was not functioning deviated from ARTC network rules and there was ineffective management of the risks introduced by this deviation, the investigation found.

"We identified that several safety factors increased safety risk including weaknesses in ARTC risk management, the train working arrangements, risk controls including a reliance on manual processes, and stakeholder engagement," said Chief Investigator, Transport Safety, Mark Smallwood.

"There were several available and practical risk controls that were not used, and there continues to be a high reliance on administrative controls and a slow take up of technological solutions by the rail infrastructure manager to improve safety."

The investigation also highlighted that the design of the XPT driver's cab contributed to the adverse outcome for the driver and accompanying qualified worker, and that passenger briefings, onboard guides and signage did not provide a reasonable opportunity for all passengers to have knowledge of what to do in an emergency.

The investigation also found that NSW Trains did not have a functioning process for obtaining safety critical information for its Victorian operations from the ARTC web portal.

"Critical to successful risk management in degraded network conditions is the involvement of network users in the identification and assessment of emergent risks, and user participation in the development of appropriate risk controls," said Mr Smallwood.

"This investigation highlights the importance of effective risk management for managing planned and unplanned track and infrastructure works, such as in this instance the loss of signalling through Wallan."

Concluded Mr Mitchell: "There was an over reliance on administrative controls and the missed opportunities to use existing and emerging technologies to manage risk associated with human error.

 "To improve safety outcomes, the rail sector must move faster and together in embracing technology to improve its management of safety risks."

Publication Date
09/08/2023

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ATSB: Derailment of XPT ST23, Wallan, Victoria, on 20 February 2020

Report > https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/rair/ro-2020-002

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ABC News --> Rail companies admit basic safety measures could have prevented deadly derailment near Melbourne

In short: Rail companies have admitted fault in court for the derailment of an interstate train travelling towards Melbourne, which resulted in two deaths.

NSW Trains and the Australian Rail Track Corporation say they failed to put in place safety measures which could have prevented the 2020 tragedy.

The wife of train driver John Kennedy, who died in the crash, has said she found out about his death via news reports and felt let down by her husband's employer.

The wife of a train driver killed in a catastrophic crash on Melbourne's outskirts says she'll never forgive his employer, as the company pleaded guilty to breaches of rail safety laws.

John Kennedy was in command of an XPT passenger train travelling from Sydney to Melbourne when it derailed at high speed at Wallan on February 20, 2020.

Mr Kennedy and his co-worker Sam Meintanis were killed, while a further 61 people were injured.

On Friday, rail operators NSW Trains and the Australian Rail Track Corporation admitted in court that they had failed to put in place basic safety measures which could have prevented the tragedy. ...

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ABC News --> Companies responsible for fatal Wallan train crash fined $525,000

The wife of a train driver killed in a high-speed derailment north of Melbourne says a $525,000 fine imposed on the two rail companies responsible does not reflect the loss of her husband.

Jenny Kennedy's husband John and his co-worker Sam Meintanis were killed when a passenger train flew off the tracks in Wallan, on February 20, 2020. Another 66 people, including five staff members, were injured.

The XPT passenger train was in the final stages of a journey from Sydney to Melbourne, and came to grief when it was diverted to a section of track without the driver's knowledge.

The alternate track had an entry speed limit of just 15 kilometres per hour, but Mr Kennedy's train was hitting speeds in excess of 100kph. ...