The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has provided an interim report from its ongoing investigation into the derailment of a freight train north of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast earlier this year.
Aurizon freight train Y279 was substantially damaged, and its driver sustained minor injuries, when the train’s two locomotives, and four of its wagons, derailed on flood-affected track at Traveston, on 23 February 2022.
Today’s interim report details the evidence collected so far in the ATSB’s transport safety investigation.
It notes a remote weather monitoring station, located about 200 m ahead of the derailment site, detected floodwaters had overtopped the track about 40 minutes before the train entered the area.
“While the remote monitoring station transmitted this information to the Queensland Rail asset management protection system, no warning or critical alarm messages were provided to the network control officer, or other relevant operational staff,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Dr Michael Walker said.
“This meant the network control officer and train driver were not alerted that floodwater had overtopped the track ahead of the train.”
Dr Walker noted the ATSB has investigated numerous accidents involving heavy rain events leading to derailments or other adverse outcomes.
This has included the derailment at Julia Creek on the Mount Isa Line in December 2015, the collision with floodwater at Banyan Creek in March 2018 on the North Coast Line, and current investigations into derailments at Nana Glen, New South Wales in February 2021 (conducted on behalf of the ATSB by NSW's OTSI), Traveston in February 2022, and Inverleigh, Victoria early this month (conducted on behalf the ATSB by Victoria's CITS).
“All such events show the importance of rail infrastructure managers having effective processes in place to manage the risk of a heavy rain event affecting the integrity of a rail line prior to a rail movement.”
With the Traveston interim report published, investigators will review and examine Queensland Rail’s integrated asset management protection system, and arrangements for the distribution of weather-related warning and alarm messages generated by the system.
“We will also be looking at procedures in place for the identification and management of a potential hazard from a weather event, and for response to warning and alarm messages,” Dr Walker said.
Procedures and training for drivers will be reviewed, both in terms of identifying and managing weather events, and egressing from a locomotive cab in an emergency.
“Investigators will also look into the training provided to network control staff and the maintenance inspections of cross track drainage systems at Traveston,” Dr Walker added.
In addition to evidence gathered, the interim report details some safety actions already taken by Queensland Rail after the derailment.
“While the ATSB will reserve its findings, and any safety issues and recommendations, for its final report, we welcome the safety action taken so far by the network operator.”
Read the interim report: Derailment involving freight train Y279 near Traveston, Queensland, on 23 February 2022