Article: Vote of faith for rail

[colinw]

The Mercury -> click here

November 01, 2011

TASMANIA'S rail operator is claiming a dramatic reduction in derailments, as a $130 million recovery plan kicks in.

TasRail spokeswoman Jennifer Jarvis said that until last Friday's accident near Campania, the network had no derailments for six months.

Ms Jarvis said the State Government-owned business, which took over in December 2009, had inherited a network that suffered from decades of under-investment in maintenance and capital.

TasRail is almost two years into the four-year $130 million rail recovery plan which includes new locomotives, wagons and train control system.

Ms Jarvis said mainline train derailments had been reduced.

"In the first seven months of operation TasRail recorded four mainline train derailments. For the 2010/11 financial year TasRail recorded five mainline derailments although two of these were very minor," she said.

The nine derailed wagons from the northbound train on Friday remained upright after the accident, causing minimal damage.

The north-south line was reopened yesterday and the derailment will be investigated by the Rail Safety Regulator.