Article: Train tragedy causes chaos

[Derwan]

From The Courier Mail:

THE death of a pedestrian at a train station on Brisbane's north side has plunged the morning journey to work into chaos for thousands of commuters.

At 5.45am an in-bound Citytrain struck and killed a person at Alderley station on the Ferny Grove line.

As a result the boom gates remain lowered at the nearby Enoggera Road level-crossing, blocking the road in both directions.

Drivers are being urged to use Raymont Road as an alternative route.

One in-bound lane of South Pine Road is also closed.

Trains on the Ferny Grove line are not running at all and buses are being organised to transport commuters.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes have reported a slightly different account.  Click here!

Body at crossing closes rail line
Andrew Wight | January 19, 2009 - 6:50AM

All train services between Ferny Gove and Bowen Hills have shut down this morning, after the body of a man was found at the South Pine Road level crossing near Alderley Station, in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

A Translink spokesman said major delays were expected through the morning and encouraged morning commuters to find alternative transport.

Adding to the congestion, a police spokesman said the inbound lane of South Pine Road was also closed due to the incident at the crossing.

Motorists have been advised to take Raymont Road or Wardell Street or travel through the Grange to avoid the congestion.

The transit authority has organised shuttle buses between the train stations which are now running.

A police spokewoman said the death, which occured at 5:45am today, was not being treated as suspicious.

Police are on the scene and investigations into the man's death continue.

Sad no matter what.

[ozbob]

The effects of these incidents particularly on rail crew are significant, and families and friends of those involved.

There are organisations and places to get help if needed. Lifeline is just a call away on 131 114.

From Brisbanetimes click here!

'Horror movies don't do it justice'
Andrew Wight | January 19, 2009 - 12:21PM

The incident itself is over in the blink of the eye, but the after-effects often last years.

A train driver and his family are this morning receiving counselling after the death of a man at the South Pine Road level crossing near Alderley Station.

A police spokeswoman said the death, which occurred at 5.45am today, was not being treated as suspicious.

The tragic incident sparked chaos for commuters, leading to the cancellation of 26 rail services and causing flow-on delays on local roads.

But the impact is sure to be much greater on the train driver who witnessed the death first-hand.

Veteran train driver and Rail, Tram and Bus Union representative Shayne Kummerfeld told brisbanetimes.com.au he had many friends who had experienced the trauma of hitting someone.

He said drivers often blamed themselves, even when they knew there was nothing they could have done to prevent a collision.

"What can you do, when you play it over in your mind and you know you've done nothing wrong?"

Mr Kummerfeld said.

Some drivers were unlucky enough to have suffered "mutiples", or more than one fatality, he said, and some people left the industry over the strain.

"This is something you don't ever want to view, it's horrific," Mr Kummerfeld said.

"Horror movies don't do it justice."

Even with the professional help offered by QR, Mr Kummerfeld said it was often a long, rocky road to recovery.

"The drivers and the families are well cared for by QR," Mr Kummerfeld said,"

"But nobody should have to be put through this," he said.

"People deal with the situation in different ways.

"Most of the time, people are quiet, but quite open with their families about it.

"I suppose I've got a hardened attitude to it all, and that's what helps me through.

Mr Kummerfeld said he hoped a rail awareness campaign, like the one that proved effective in South Australia, could reduce the number of rail-related fatalities, but also acknowledged it was a common, state-wide problem.

"Speaking from my own experience, most families of train drivers understand that this is something that could happen."

Lifeline offers suicide prevention and counselling services on 131 114.