Deaths and Injury - Tilt train involved in crossing crash with a truck

[Dean Quick]

I totally agree mufreight,
                                 The road freight industry in this country has to really wake up and start taking more responsibility for the actions of drivers of heavy vehicles. It seems that everytime there's an accident involving trucks at level crossings, trucking groups are very quick to lay
blame on inadequate crossing protection.Never admitting otherwise!! For too long the trucking industry has been an all too powerful voice lobbying the gov't for everything from fuel subsidies to exemptions for larger trucks( b doubles) etc, whilst the railways have been largely ignored having a very small voice with which to lobby. Fines and penalties for level crossing infringments should be massively increased and more freight put back on rail where we all know it should be! Rail is a much more efficient way to move freight not to mention safer and always will be.

[O_128]

You are right dean quick.It should Be absolutely essential for a heavy vehicle to stop at at a rail crossing and look both ways then cross safely if it is safe to do so.Most just speed through with nor regard for road rules or others safety. The motor industry should maybe take the lead and move there vehicles to travel by freight currently the only cars i have seen taken by freight are Renaults.In the USA 80% of Honda's are moved by freight why not Australia.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Train derailed after crashing into B-double

Train derailed after crashing into B-double
Article from: AAP

November 30, 2008 11:00am

A SUGARCANE locomotive has derailed in north Queensland after colliding with a truck, two days after another rail accident killed two men.
The locomotive collided with a B-double truck at a crossing at Herbert St, Ingham, about 11.15pm  on Saturday, police say.

The impact derailed the locomotive, which then ran into the front awning of a shop.

No one was injured, and investigations into the crash are continuing.

Train drivers Richard Wetherell, 54, and Michael Smithers, 53, of Townville, were killed on Thursday when the tilt train they were driving hit a truck at a crossing at Cardwell, about 50km from Ingham.

Investigations into that smash have so far revealed lights were working at the level crossing prior to the collision.

My blog comment:

The fortunate thing is no injuries.

But it again highlights the sheer folly of B double trucks running on roads in Australia, with lax road rules and rail crossings and safety requirements that were in place for T model fords, and Cobb and Co stage coaches.

The situation is a time bomb. Time for immediate action.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Rail travel resumes after fatal derailment

Rail travel resumes after fatal derailment
November 30, 2008 - 7:25PM

Rail travel between the north Queensland cities of Cairns and Townsville has resumed following a fatal derailment last week.

Queensland Rail's (QR) Tilt Train and a semi trailer collided at a level crossing south of Cardwell on Thursday, killing the train's two drivers, Richard Wetherell, 54, and Michael Smithers, 53.

A QR spokesman on Sunday said train services between the two centres had resumed after the damaged track was repaired over the weekend.

The locomotive and luggage car damaged in the collision were lifted onto trucks and transported to Maryborough, in Queensland's south.

Temporary speed restrictions have been put in place around the level crossing.

AAP

I have requested specific details of the speed restrictions.
Admin

[ozbob]

Media Release 1 Dec 2008

Queensland:  Northern rail line reopens, proactive actions are needed today

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for the authorities to introduce an emergency interim measure requiring all heavy vehicles to stop at all railway level crossings until 'safe' crossings can be identified and these upgraded for limited speed direct road crossing.  A temporary speed restriction has been placed around the Rungoo crossing.  What about the other rail crossings in Queensland?  Has anything really changed?

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Vague promises of road overpasses and boom gates are not going to make safe the dangerous level crossings on our railway network now, today.  As an emergency interim measure we call on the Queensland Government to require all heavy vehicles; buses and trucks, to stop at all railway level crossings and then for drivers to look and listen for trains approaching from either direction and to cross only when it is clearly safe to do so.  This uniform requirement should remain in place until 'safe' crossings, those with active protection, fail safe signaling, and warning signs/lights 300-400 metres before the crossings as appropriate, can be identified.  These crossings should have permanent crossing road speed limits as a further layer of safety."

"Other jurisdictions implement these safety procedures as routine (1,2).  Is it not time that rail crew, passengers and road users are afforded some common sense protection?  There is a clear duty of care issue here."

"Enforcement of road rules at level crossings must become pro-active.  Cameras should be fitted on busy crossings to identify road users who flout the rules.  Substantial fines and suspensions must be put in place."

"There was a recommendation arising out of the school bus and train crash near Dalby earlier this year.  The recommendation was that all school buses be required to stop at all unprotected railway crossings (3).  Why hasn't that recommendation been put in place?"

"For other crossings not identified as 'safe' an absolute requirement for heavy vehicles to stop is essential.  Have a look at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and their bulletin on recent level crossing crashes (4). You will then understand the urgent basis of this request."

References:

1.  http://www.dot.state.wi.us/safety/motorist/railcrossings/rules.htm
2.  http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/about-driving/giving-way-at-railway-level-crossings.html
3.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/16/2393501.htm?site=southqld
4.  http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2008/pdf/rail_bulletin.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration  0412255927
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

A prime mover with two trailer units ( a B-double ) weighing around 62 tonnes at 90km/h requires more than 200 metres to stop!  How much more distance at 100 or 110 km/h??

Source:  Sun Herald, 30 November 2008 page 7.  Now online here!

This is why a secondary warning system out from the crossings is essential.

[ozbob]

From the Townsville Bulletin click here!

Queensland Rail force to formed to fix our crossings

Queensland Rail force to formed to fix our crossings

DANIEL BATEMAN

December 4th, 2008

QUEENSLAND Rail (QR) will form a taskforce of train drivers, safety experts and unions to fast track safety upgrades of level crossings throughout North Queensland.

The announcement came as Australia's leading truck insurer said yesterday it was `ludicrous' to still have unprotected level crossings along the national highway.

The North's rail and truck operators have been demanding the State Government act immediately to provide upgrades to North Queensland's rail network, to prevent more fatal collisions between trains and vehicles from occurring.

This follows last week's horrific crash between a tilt-train and a semi-trailer that killed Townsville train drivers Richard Wetherell, 54, and Michael Smithers, 53, at a level crossing 17km north of Ingham.

A list of five `black spot' level crossings have been identified between Bowen and Cairns. They include: the crossing at the Don River, near Bowen; Brandon, north of Ayr; the crossing at the Cardwell Range, 17km north of Ingham; 25km north of Ingham; and at Port Hinchinbrook, near Cardwell.

The operators want the standard to be flashing lights or boom gates at each black spot, or where possible overhead passes.

The QR-sponsored task force will now consider these crossings for upgrades, including the timelines for any works that might be recommended.

A spokeswoman for Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt last night said QR may recommend such works for funding to the joint level crossing safety committee comprising the rail authority, Queensland Transport, Main Roads and local authorities.

QR estimates the installation of flashing lights and/or boom gates could cost up to $1.5 million per site.

National Transport Insurance spokesman Owen Driscoll said the organisation had been lobbying for better crossings for years.

"In all honesty, to have a level crossing across Highway 1 in Australia in the 21st century is just ludicrous," Mr Driscoll said.

"This is what we've been trying to bring to (the Government's) attention, and we'll continue to work with the Government to do something about it."

QR CEO Lance Hockridge said the taskforce would be one of several measures the rail authority would implement immediately to improve rail and road safety in North Queensland.

Other measures include better community education campaigns about level crossings, and researching and developing better preventative measures to make railway crossings safer.

"This is broader than QR ? it must include communities, motorists, road and transport authorities, and the heavy vehicle industry," Mr Hockridge said.

"Together we can make a real difference."

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Townsville district organiser Les Moffitt was overjoyed to hear the news.

"We see this as a positive move and very much look forward to working together towards rail safety along the North Queensland rail corridor," Mr Moffitt said.

Train drivers had warned the Bligh Government there would be more fatal accidents in North Queensland unless the five black spots were fixed, with up to five near misses for every reported collision.

[mufreight]

If the figures given in the quote are correct and I would believe them to be then quite clearly then these units do not meet the braking distance standards applied to other road vehicles and one must therfore question should they be allowed on our roads and if so perhaps further regulation is requires such as leglislating that they make compulsory stops at all level crossings that are not fitted with boom gates and a revision of the braking standards so that they comply to the same braking standards as single articulated vehicles and a speed restriction of 90kph if the gross combination mass is 50 tonnes or over.

A prime mover with two trailer units ( a B-double ) weighing around 62 tonnes at 90km/h requires more than 200 metres to stop!  How much more distance at 100 or 110 km/h??

Source:  Sun Herald, 30 November 2008 page 7. 

This is why a secondary warning system out from the crossings is essential.
[/quote]