A V/Line passenger train was brought to a grinding halt after it collided with maintenance equipment left behind from track work.
On 16 February 2015, track maintenance was being conducted at Montgomery (between Sale and Bairnsdale) in Victoria. To allow a passenger train to pass through the section, the maintenance gang cleared the track and lifted the track protection. When the gang vacated the line however, some equipment was left behind on the track.
As the V/Line passenger train approached the work site, the driver saw the obstruction. Despite making an emergency brake application the driver was unable to bring the train to a stop before it collided with the equipment. The train remained on the track and there were no injuries to passengers or rail personnel.
The ATSB’s investigation found that the item of maintenance equipment struck had earlier been moved along the track - away from the immediate area of works. Subsequently, this equipment was overlooked when the track was cleared of workers and other tools.
The task of ensuring that the line was clear had cascaded to a third party within the maintenance gang. There was no formal system in place to manage this process of informal delegation.
As a result of this and other related safe working incidents, V/Line has advised that a review of infrastructure rules, safety procedures and training has been implemented.
Safety message
This incident highlights the need for track maintenance personnel to be particularly vigilant in ensuring that no obstructions remain on the line when authorising the passage of a train through a work site.
Similarly, network managers should ensure that systems and processes are in place to minimise the potential for maintenance equipment to be left on track.
Read the report: Passenger train collision with maintenance equipment, Montgomery, near Sale, Victoria, on 16 February 2015