Article: Coal trains wrecked after colliding in central Queensland

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Coal trains wrecked after colliding in central Queensland

Coal trains wrecked after colliding in central Queensland
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Leanne Edmistone

April 22, 2009 07:34am

TWO coal trains have collided in Central Queensland this morning.
Rockhampton Police said no one was injured but the wreckage was significant and could take days to clear.

The accident happened about 12.50am at Grantleight, near Gogango, 65km west of Rockhampton and 517km north-west of Brisbane, about 12.50am today.

A Queensland Rail spokesman said services in the Blackwater coal rail system had been affected and coal customers were being notified.

He said The Spirit of the Outback train would be replaced by road coaches between Rockhampton and Longreach.

The spokesman said an investigation had been launched.

[ozbob]

From The Bulletin click here!


http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/media/img/news/2009/04/22/train22c_t312.jpg

DERAILED: Two empty coal trains derailed yesterday after they collided near Gogango, 65km west of Rockhampton.

Coal trains crash

Coal trains crash

Melinda Siegmeier | 23rd April 2009

DERAILED: Two empty coal trains derailed yesterday after they collided near Gogango, 65km west of Rockhampton.

THE entire rail system between Rockhampton and Longreach has been shut down after two coal trains collided and derailed yesterday.

A locomotive and a number of empty wagons were derailed near Gogango, 65km west of Rockhampton, in the crash, which happened at 12.50am.

Power lines were broken and hanging for a 200m stretch.

The impact of the crash forced some wagons off the tracks and off their bogies.

The train tracks have also been physically damaged, but no one was hurt in the crash.

Queensland Rail yesterday immediately set up an incident zone to organise the clean-up, which is predicted to take about four days.

QRNational Coal executive general manager Marcus McAuliffe said the accident occurred when a slow-moving coal train travelling west ran into the rear of a stationary train.

He said the system was forced into shut down but QR would be ?looking to ramp things up to make up for the shortfall? once things were back on track.

Yesterday at the crash site, Mr McAuliffe stressed the most important thing for QR was safety.

?Fortunately in this crash there were no injuries to our staff. They are okay, and that's the most important thing,? he said.

As soon as it was safe the tracks would reopen.

All rail services in the Blackwater coal system and Spirit of the Outback passenger train, which travels between Rockhampton and Longreach, have been shut down.

Passengers needing urgent travel will have to utilise a bus service.

The Spirit of the Outback is usually scheduled to run twice a week, while the number of coal trains fluctuates according to demand daily.

Mr McAuliffe said QR was working closely with Queensland Transport to investigate the cause of the incident.

Late yesterday they were assessing the extent of the damage.

The speed limit along the Capricorn Highway near the crash site has been reduced to 40kmh.

Yesterday trains were backed up as far as Stanwell and Gracemere.