Article: Boy, 5, survives fall from moving Sunlander train in north Queensland

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Boy, 5, survives fall from moving Sunlander train in north Queensland

Boy, 5, survives fall from moving Sunlander train in north Queensland

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    December 22, 2011 8:34AM

A FIVE-year-old boy has had a miraculous escape from serious injury after falling out of the moving Sunlander train in far north Queensland.

The boy was travelling with his mother and three siblings when she noticed he was missing.

She raised the alarm with train staff who found a door open and contacted Cairns police about 7pm.

Around the same time, a motorist on the Bruce Highway reported the boy near the train tracks at Aloomba..

Incredibly he had suffered only cuts to the head and bruising and was taken to Cairns Base Hospital for treatment.

Police and Queensland Rail are investigating the incident about 7pm Wednesday.

Although QR has confirmed the train was moving when the child fell out the door, it is not known how fast.

A QR spokesman said "every available assistance" had been offered to the child's family.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk described the boy's survival as a ``Christmas miracle'' and said she had ordered a full inquiry.

"We don't know the child fell out of the slow moving train,'' Ms Palaszczuk said on ABC radio.

"I have today immediately ordered an investigation to find out how this occurred and that nothing like this ever happens again.''

Owen Doogan from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union said it was hard to understand how the boy could have opened the train door.

"I'd be very surprised if a five-year-old was able to open the door,'' said Mr Doogan.

"The reality is that QR and the staff put the safety of their passengers as the highest priority.''

He said in decades of working in the rail industry he had never heard of a child falling out of a train in this way.

"There have been instances of people falling off trains but not children,'' Mr Doogan said.

"We can be thankful the train was going very slowly when the child fell and it's fantastic that he appears to have survived so well.''

Mr Doogan said the union supported an investigation into how the incident occurred.

[Jonno]

A thorough investigation will be conducted as it should whilst road accidents just keep racking up the road toll. 

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't know what happened exactly but what I think happened was that he went up to the door, opened it and accidently fell out. Carriage doors on the Sunlander don't lock like our surban rollingstock and TiltTrains. They are very easily opened.

[Fares_Fair]

I don't know what happened exactly but what I think happened was that he went up to the door, opened it and accidently fell out. Carriage doors on the Sunlander don't lock like our surban rollingstock and TiltTrains. They are very easily opened.

The Journalist who broke this story stated in her video clip that the doors to the Sunslander are NOT easily opened.
She reported that the door lever must be turned and a button pressed in to open them, something that a 5 year old wouldn't be expected to be able to do but apparently did.

Apparently when they looked for the boy, they found the door open and contacted police.

It's truly amazing that he suffered only a scratch to the head and was spotted by a motorist on the Bruce Highway, he remained in hospital overnight.
Miraculous indeed.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[BribieG]

Glad the boy's ok, but would the CM kindly stop displaying that pathetically photoshopped "concept model" of the proposed new Sunlander every time it pops up in a story 

[#Metro]

Glad the boy's ok, but would the CM kindly stop displaying that pathetically photoshopped "concept model" of the proposed new Sunlander every time it pops up in a story  Cheesy

It does look a bit fake.

But hey, it doesn't go any faster than QR CityTrain does anyway...

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
22/12/2011

Investigation into Sunlander incident ordered

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered an immediate investigation into an overnight incident in which a child fell from the Sunlander train.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was critical the investigation by Queensland Rail focused on how the five-year-old boy could have accessed an open door on the Cairns-bound train at about 7pm last night.

The child received minor injuries and was treated at the Cairns Base Hospital last night after he was located near the train tracks between Deeral and Aloomba in Far North Queensland. Queensland Rail staff are in Cairns offering assistance to his mother and family.

"This is one very, very lucky little boy and my thoughts are with his mother and his family after what must have been a terrifying time," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"It really is quite miraculous that he was not badly injured and my thanks go to the local police for helping to locate him quickly after the alarm was raised.

"But I want no stone left unturned.

"This is a very worrying incident and Queensland Rail will now fully investigate how this could have happened."

Senior Queensland Rail officials have travelled to Cairns this morning to offer further assistance to the family and start investigations.

==================

Quite possible an older child opened the door or something ....

How many children injured on the roads today??

[Fares_Fair]

I don't know what happened exactly but what I think happened was that he went up to the door, opened it and accidently fell out. Carriage doors on the Sunlander don't lock like our surban rollingstock and TiltTrains. They are very easily opened.

The Journalist who broke this story stated in her video clip that the doors to the Sunslander are NOT easily opened.
She reported that the door lever must be turned and a button pressed in to open them, something that a 5 year old wouldn't be expected to be able to do but apparently did.

Apparently when they looked for the boy, they found the door open and contacted police.

It's truly amazing that he suffered only a scratch to the head and was spotted by a motorist on the Bruce Highway, he remained in hospital overnight.
Miraculous indeed.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Blog comment:

"There is no way a five year old child could have unlocked and opened a door. I have been on this train many times ant(sic) door handles are designed so you have to press the lock in and turn the handle at the same time. Not possible to do for a child the age of five."

Another possibility, maybe the door hadn't closed properly, but I am not familiar with how the door works so speculation at this point.
The fact that the door was found open is interesting in that perhaps it doesn't close properly.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[HappyTrainGuy]

They are still very easy to open though. Be it by a 5 year old or a 50 year old. Going from memory between Babinda and Aloomba there are some 70-80kph running but alot of 40-50kph running due to the sharp curves and alignment. I also bet citytrain don't use curves like http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Aloomba&hl=en&ll=-17.108354,145.83267&spn=0.004399,0.008256&sll=-17.109231,145.833614&sspn=0.008798,0.016512&vpsrc=6&gl=au&hnear=Aloomba+Queensland&t=h&z=18 Hows that for a permanent speed restriction

[somebody]

They are still very easy to open though. Be it by a 5 year old or a 50 year old. Going from memory between Babinda and Aloomba there are some 70-80kph running but alot of 40-50kph running due to the sharp curves and alignment. I also bet citytrain don't use curves like http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Aloomba&hl=en&ll=-17.108354,145.83267&spn=0.004399,0.008256&sll=-17.109231,145.833614&sspn=0.008798,0.016512&vpsrc=6&gl=au&hnear=Aloomba+Queensland&t=h&z=18 Hows that for a permanent speed restriction

Ouch!

[ozbob]

Amazing hysterical over reaction.

People open doors to smoke.

5 year olds need supervision on any transport mode.

[ozbob]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/SunlanderIncident-QueenslandRailUpdate2.aspx

Sunlander Incident - Queensland Rail Update 2 - 11.00am

22/12/2011
Senior Queensland Rail officials have travelled to Cairns this morning as investigations continue into the incident last night where a five year old boy fell from the northbound Sunlander train between Deeral and Aloomba on a low speed section of track in Far North Queensland just before 7pm.

The child was transported to Cairns Base Hospital with what we understand to be minor injuries and was kept overnight for observation.

Queensland Rail has offered and continues to offer the boy's family all available assistance.

The Sunlander carriage has been withdrawn from service and will be inspected by Queensland Rail investigators as they prepare a report on the incident.

Queensland Rail has assisted Queensland Police with their investigation. 

Queensland Rail will continue to provide updates throughout the day.

[ozbob]

Seems the child gained access to the connections between carriages and some how managed to fall out there, according to some reports.

My bet was the doors were left open by smokers.  There may have been a gap in the carriage connection walkway, which could be the reason for removing the carriage from service.

The carriages have been running around for 45 years, but of course lack of supervision is not considered an issue.  Blame the railways ..

Children under 12 are not meant to be left unsupervised, particularly on a train.

[mufreight]

Time to remove some conjecture here with a bit of logic.
Point one     The child fell from the carriage  this is undisputed.
Point two     The child exited the carriage through an open door
Point three   The door was discovered still open
Point four     The child survived therefor the child fell away from the train and was not hit by the train
Point six       Had the child exited the train due to a fault in the carriage diaphram, ie a gap of sufficent size for a five year old child then the child would have been seriously injured simply because at best by having been struck by the following vehicle in the train and at worst by having been run over by the carriage or vehicle trailing.
Point seven  Had the train crew been aware of a faulty lock on the carriage door the door would have been locked off so despite any defective lock the door would not be able to be opened.
Point 8        The logical conclusion would be that a person, most likely an adult smoker had opened the door while smpking in the carriage vestibule and had failed to close it with the child then finding the open or partialy open door when he/she went walkabout then fell out of the moving train, the question that now arises in this lets cover my butt and sue anyone I can society is who is responsible.
End of discussion until such time as the official enquiry is completed would be prudent at this time.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Any reports or speculation of the kid falling inbetween the carriages is complete bull to put simply. As mufreight said, the footplates don't extend all the way across the carriage so if anyone somehow managed to fall between the cariages they would go straight under the wheels and not away from the train.

[#Metro]

Any reports or speculation of the kid falling inbetween the carriages is complete bull to put simply. As mufreight said, the footplates don't extend all the way across the carriage so if anyone somehow managed to fall between the cariages they would go straight under the wheels and not away from the train.

Woah! So much for zero harm!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Any reports or speculation of the kid falling inbetween the carriages is complete bull to put simply. As mufreight said, the footplates don't extend all the way across the carriage so if anyone somehow managed to fall between the cariages they would go straight under the wheels and not away from the train.

Woah! So much for zero harm!

Zero Harm is not a subsitute for basic use of the human brain. The footplate is wider than the width of the diaphragm. For someone to fall off a train in a position like that first someone would have to hack/cut away the fabric/rubber and then squeeze between the metal ring supports. The same is applied and is still in use by pretty much all the CityTrain (Some have different methods of attachment for noise - SMU260 and IMUs).

[Jonno]

Whoooooo What a double standard.  If the same reaction was taken to every road accident (and it should) then all cars should be take out of service whilst each and every road accident is investigated.  

Again we treat a road accident as just a simple mistake or error or bad luck or stupidity but a train accident requires a "Royal Inquiry"

What is good for the goose is good for the gander

[ozbob]

Any reports or speculation of the kid falling inbetween the carriages is complete bull to put simply. As mufreight said, the footplates don't extend all the way across the carriage so if anyone somehow managed to fall between the cariages they would go straight under the wheels and not away from the train.

Woah! So much for zero harm!

There is a point where responsibility for one's actions, in this case the need to supervise children is not a cop out for 'zero harm' ...

These carriages are in constant use and have been for 45 years.  I can only recall one other chap falling out, when some what under the influence he opened the wrong door.

People have regularly fallen out of motor vehicles, and occasionally out of aircraft, overboard on ships ...  5 year olds need supervision on all transport modes.

The whole thing is an hysterical beat up ...  people have to be accountable and responsible too ...

======================

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/SunlanderIncident-QueenslandRailUpdate3.aspx

Sunlander Incident - Queensland Rail Update 3

22/12/2011

Queensland Rail Chief Customer Officer Cathy Heffernan said:

"Queensland Rail continues its investigation into the circumstances relating to an incident last night where a five year old boy fell from the northbound Sunlander train in Far North Queensland just before 7pm.

"Safety is Queensland Rail's number one priority and we have taken immediate action to protect the safety of our staff and customers.

"A number of additional safety measures will be implemented immediately, including extra onboard safety announcements around emergency exits, and additional safety warning signage at exits.

"We are also investigating the possibility of CCTV and audible alarms at exits.

"The external carriage doors operate with a dual opening system, requiring two separate, deliberate actions to open.

"Senior Queensland Rail officials remain in Cairns to continue investigations into last night's incident between Deeral and Aloomba on a low speed section of track.

"The Sunlander carriage has been withdrawn from service and will be inspected by Queensland Rail investigators as they prepare a report on the incident.

"Queensland Rail has assisted Queensland Police with their investigation, and continues to assist the independent Rail Safety Regulator with its investigation.

"On board staff offered support to the boy's mother immediately after the incident, before she was met by Queensland Rail's area manager at Cairns station.

"Queensland Rail has remained in contact with the boy's mother and continues to offer the boy's family all available assistance, including accommodation, meals and travel expenses.

"Queensland Rail will continue to provide updates throughout the day."

[ozbob]

Whoooooo What a double standard.  If the same reaction was taken to every road accident (and it should) then all cars should be take out of service whilst each and every road accident is investigated.  

Again we treat a road accident as just a simple mistake or error or bad luck or stupidity but a train accident requires a "Royal Inquiry"

What is good for the goose is good for the gander

It just shows how out of touch with reality the nation is.  A minor misadventure is turned into an event bigger than Ben Hur ...

Meanwhile thousands are injured and killed on the roads and they pretend all is well ...  fools!

[Set in train]

Three days before Christmas, it's a slow news day and the train is filling it.

I am waiting for the story of a child being able to disconnect moving carriages, now that will be a great story!!!!!!!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Where to start on that one  

Yeah, its definatly a media beat up and some of the comments that I've read on the comment pages..... obviously not many have been inside one and just looking for a quick i-know-more-than-you-cos-i'm-an-arm-chair-expert. Pool fencing too..... honestly, c'mon lol. There have been a few people that have climbed on top of trains and felt the wrath of electricity, people tagging property who have slipped and hurt themselves or others that just do stupid things that could end in a fatality real quick (like having a rock fight with the ballast at a station on a curve with express trains wizzing by) yet none get much mention by the media. Not much consistancy like you've said either between different modes. All you have to do is look at is QRs safety history with passengers and then look at the road toll. No brainer.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd December 2012

Greetings,

The police commissioner is pleading for commonsense/courtesy/safety on the roads.  ' Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson in impassioned plea for Christmas road safety, http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/show-some-respect/story-e6freoof-1226228921025 '. And good that he is.  But again the article highlights the sad fatality toll, but what about the massive injury toll?  By highlighting both, pleas might be a bit more productive.  For every road fatality there are approximately 25 hospital admission for injuries caused by road crashes on average. The cost of managing the horrific injury toll is a massive burden to the health sector.

The incident of the child falling from the train up north highlights how out of touch the nation actually is.  A misadventure on a train is cause for  major upheaval media and organisational wise. Meanwhile deaths and injuries continue unabated on the roads.

There is a point where responsibility for one's actions, in this case the need to supervise children is not a cop out for 'zero harm' ...

The carriages are in constant use and have been for 45 years.  I can only recall one other chap falling out, when some what under the influence he opened the wrong door.

People have regularly fallen out of motor vehicles, and occasionally out of aircraft, overboard on ships ...  5 year olds need supervision on all transport modes.

A person has posted the following comment on our forum with respect to the whoo-haaa re the train incident at Cairns:

'What a double standard.  If the same reaction was taken to every road accident (and it should) then all cars should be take out of service whilst each and every road accident is investigated.  
Again we treat a road accident as just a simple mistake or error or bad luck or stupidity but a train accident requires a "Royal Inquiry"

What is good for the goose is good for the gander'

The hypocrisy of the authorities is palpable.

Drive safely, but better to catch a train or bus, if you can find one.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 21 December 2011

Australia: Road safety is an oxymoron

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers is appalled by the lack of political leadership in reducing the number of deaths and those injured or maimed in road crashes.

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Whilst our major political parties squabble about the funding of 'road safety' campaigns and 'safer roads', people continue to die and be maimed on our roads on an escalating daily basis (1). What is putting lives at risk is the sheer volume of cars and trucks on our roads day and night and the lack of serious policies to move the vast majority of people and freight by rail or public transport."

"Rail is 40 times safer than driving and a bus 10 time safer not to mention 100's of times more efficient yet our transport networks are being designed for 80% of trips to be by motor vehicle. Road trauma is costing our nation around $40 billion each and every year and this cost is escalating rapidly (2,3)."

"The rail industry has numerous campaigns aimed at achieving Zero Harm and every life lost is the focus of concentrated assessment to avoid the loss in the future.  Meanwhile the road transport industry sees a life lost as a mere statistic and primarily the fault of the operator. The contrast could not be starker and explains why the rail industry has deaths in the low 30's whilst the road industry is in the 1000's. A transport mode that has the huge death and injury toll such as road would quite rightly be expected to be shut down. Unfortunately, cars and trucks are a favoured political species, and the community is sacrificed."

"If our political leaders aspire to 'truly' reducing road deaths then the Road Industry must adopt a Zero Harm mentality and our transport systems designed to have the minimum number of motor vehicles physically possible on the road.  Instead of 80% of trips being by motor vehicle there should be only 25% and long distance road trips a thing of the past."

"Countries and cities all over the world have shown that such targets are possible if actually planned from the beginning and the economic, social and environmental benefits greater."

"The ways and means are there. All that is it needed is leadership, not political mud slinging and name calling."  

1.   http://scottemerson.com.au/news/labors-cuts-to-road-safety-puts-queensland-lives-at-risk.html

2.   Road trauma is breaking the nation   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4652.msg79735#msg79735  

3.   Australasian Railway Association Inc  The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues Dr Richard Tooth  http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Publications/TheCostofRoadCrashesReport.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[BribieG]

On the subject of smokers, on my recent trip on the Countrylink XPT to Sydney it was stressed that the whole train - particularly the toilets - is fitted with the smoke alarms from Hell, and anyone breaching them would be kicked off at the next station. As it happened the first smoking stop was Gloucester  - I'm not a smoker and it was an education to see chain smoking taken to its absolute limit.